CAMP CASEY, South Korea -- Realistic training builds Soldiers' confidence in their equipment, ensuring they can provide a strong defense to deter aggression against the Korean peninsula.
The Soldiers of 210th Fires Brigade with the assistance from the engineers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, both brigades from 2nd Infantry Division conducted survivability training for the Q-37 Radar at Seong ji Gol Village on Sept. 16 at Camp Casey.
"The radar is a piece of equipment that is important to the Army," said Sgt. Anthony Brown, of Rochester, Ind., a field artillery firefinder radar operator assigned to 333rd Field Artillery Target Acquisition Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Fires Bde. "We are learning how to protect it so we can accomplish our mission and provide data to our artillery crewmembers and destroy whatever or whoever is shooting at us."
The Q-37 Radar is a counter-battery radar, which is designed to pickup incoming enemy artillery rounds targeted at friendly positions, added Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jeffrey D. Farkas of Middletown, Ohio, 210th Fires Bde., targeting officer. The radar also provides the locations of those enemy weapons so we can return fire and destroy them.
It is not often Soldiers train on emplacing radars in the ground.
"It's rare to see a radar being dug into position," said Farkas. "In my 23 years of service I have only seen it done three times, including this time."
Conducting this type of training is important to give leaders and young Soldiers important first-hand experience with this uncommon task.
"First thing is survivability; you have to know how to build your own fighting positions," said Farkas. "It's important so the leaders can come out here, see it and get hands on of what the position looks like, how long it takes to build and what it takes to build it. So when they are required to do it; they have a general understanding of the process, if required to do it in combat."
According to Capt. Thomas Bowers, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., the assistant fire support officer assigned to 1st ABCT, this type of training is beneficial for everyone, not just field artillery Soldiers.
"I'm out here to observe the training and watch the engineers dig the radar into the position. I am also learning from Chief Farkas about the radar position, some of it capabilities and limitations," said Bowers. "You never know what kind of position you might find yourself in, but this training teaches when to dig in a radar system."
According to Farkas, it takes time, equipment and manpower to dig and emplace radars into the ground.
Digging and emplacing a radar into the ground position takes time and manpower, but it is one of the best ways to protect field artillery firefinder radar operators from enemy threats.
"A fighting position like this allows us to protect the equipment and ourselves," said Brown.
Learning to build an improved radar position teaches Soldiers how to protect themselves and their equipment; so they can complete their mission to be ready to fight tonight.
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