CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, completed its initial round of Fire Support Team (FIST) certification courses at Camp Buehring for fire support specialists and Officers of 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, May 18-23.
The certification courses validate Soldiers on their FIST artillery skills to ensure mission readiness and proficiency, focusing on the basics.
"The FIST Cert is the validating training event for our FIST platoons across the brigade," said Capt. Kenric Lull, fire support officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. "This cert validates our ability to safely and effectively do our jobs."
The course focused on familiarization and the use of key tasks including operating a Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR), reading and using maps, conducting mounted and dismounted land navigation, constructing terrain sketches, calling for fire and most importantly, setting up essential communications equipment.
"Our main weapon is our radio," said Sgt. Christopher I. Morrison, fire support specialist, Company B., 1st Bn., 68th Armor Reg., 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. "By having our communications up and running, we are more effective on the battlefield."
Racing against the clock, Soldiers and Officers were challenged to complete fire mission related tasks. They were required to calibrate and employ an LLDR, determine and designate firing targets, read and plot points on a map, complete a mounted and dismounted land navigation course and setup tactical antennas to establish communications, all within specified time limits.
"We have to know every step of our job," Morrison said. "This cert actually tests us on our jobs and by doing this we give everyone, especially our younger Soldiers, confidence."
Once the hands-on portion of the certification course was complete, the training shifted to focusing on what fire support specialists do best; calling for fire.
Soldiers and Officers moved to the call for fire simulator to complete the final portion of the FIST certification course. During the simulator, FIST members were tested on their abilities to create terrain sketches, adjust indirect fires, coordinate for illumination, call for immediate suppression fire and engage stationary and moving targets by calling for fire.
"Gaining proficiency in repetitions and executing actions during tests allows them to grow as Soldiers, NCOs and leaders," Lull added. "This course also allows leadership to identify strengths and weaknesses in which we can improve, but maintaining overall readiness is the goal of this certification."
All of the warrior tasks and skills tests were graded in accordance with the established standards of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
By the time the rounds of certification courses are complete for other battalions of the brigade, over 140 fire support specialists will have reviewed, trained and mastered almost 160 skill level tasks related to forward observing and calling for fire.
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