Troopers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, host a live fire demonstration with their newly received M109A7 Paladins, Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 18, 2020. U.S. Army Futures Command, the GREYWOLF brigade, and over 14 high end civilian agencies came together for the event to analyze the new Paladins and to find new ways to increase the firing rate of the weapon system. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Calab Franklin, 3ABCT, 1CD, Public Affairs)

A U.S. Army Futures Command Officer speaks to a group of civilian agencies during a M109A7 Paladin life fire demonstration held by 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 18, 2020. U.S. Army Futures Command, the GREYWOLF brigade, and over 14 agencies came together for the event to analyze the new Paladins and to find ways to increase the firing rate of the weapon system. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Calab Franklin, 3ABCT, 1CD, Public Affairs)

Lt. Col. Christopher Carpenter, Commander of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, speaks to a group of civilian agencies during a M109A7 Paladin life fire demonstration held by the field artillery unit, Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 18, 2020. U.S. Army Futures Command, the GREYWOLF brigade, and over 14 agencies came together for the event to analyze the new Paladins and to find ways to increase the firing rate of the weapon system. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Calab Franklin, 3ABCT, 1CD, Public Affairs)

Troopers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, host a live fire demonstration with their newly received M109A7 Paladins, Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 18, 2020. U.S. Army Futures Command, the GREYWOLF brigade, and over 14 high end civilian agencies came together for the event to analyze the new Paladins and to find new ways to increase the firing rate of the weapon system. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Calab Franklin, 3ABCT, 1CD, Public Affairs)

Capt. Stewart Tice, Commander of Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, escorts a group of civilians to a firing line during a M109A7 Paladin life fire demonstration held by the field artillery unit, Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 18, 2020. U.S. Army Futures Command, the GREYWOLF brigade, and over 14 high end civilian agencies came together for the event to analyze the new Paladins and to find ways to increase the firing rate of the weapon system. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Calab Franklin, 3ABCT, 1CD, Public Affairs)

FORT HOOD, TEXAS – Deep in the rolling hills of the Fort Hood training areas, GREYWOLF Troopers, civilian technological masterminds, and the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), look for new ways to modernize the Army’s most up-to-date version of the Paladin self-propelled howitzer system, Nov. 18, 2020.

The GREYWOLF Troopers of 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery (2-82 FA), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, hosted this live fire demonstration in collaboration of over 14 high end civilian agencies and AFC in hopes of increasing the firing rate of the self-propelled howitzer, adding a technical edge to an already extremely lethal piece of weaponry.

“We have 15 firms out here that we have on contract and each have a different niche, each have a different core competency, and each are really at the top of our game in what they do,” said Col. Tim Fuller, project manager for Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems. “It is absolutely imperative that we have partnerships and relationships with all of our folks within the military as well as in industry outside of the military.”

Several GREYWOLF Troopers were assigned to escort multiple groups of civilians to the firing lines where the contracted agencies could analyze the way the system currently operates and think of innovative ways to modernize the equipment.

“We’ve asked them to take a look at how we do things today, and what we can do better; specifically, improving the rate of fire of our self-propelled howitzers,” said Fuller.

The agencies were also invited to take a tour of the inside of the vehicle to get a closer and a more in depth look at how the machinery works.

“This ties into what our brigade has already been doing, we are undergoing a huge modernization effort right now across the brigade,” said Capt. Stewart Tice, Bravo Battery Commander, 2-82 FA. “This battalion is fielding brand new A7 Paladins, along with new ammo supply vehicles, and in addition we just replaced our entire Humvee fleet with the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle trucks.”

The GREYWOLF brigade and the 1st Cavalry Division is the tip of the spear when it comes to the modernization of the Army, making them the perfect hosts for the innovative and modern team to spectate.

Tice added, it makes him immensely proud to be a part of the demonstration and that all of the Troopers were very excited to be chosen and welcome all of the partners to look at ways to make them [Paladins] better.