TORUN, Poland - Under clearing skies, Polish soldiers, leaders and media gathered to watch both Polish artillerymen as well as artillerymen of C Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare to fire M777A2 Howitzers, February 10, in Torun, Poland, as part of a joint live fire exercise during exercise Dragoon Shock.
"We are here mastering our craft, during this mission that we are doing here together," said 1st Sgt. Kirklee Daubon, of C Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. "We understand the importance of building that bond with our neighboring allies and we always want to put our best foot forward."
Dragoon Shock is part of C Battery's Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise to demonstrate their ability to deploy rapidly and within 96 hours of notification.
"I think one of the most important thing about this type of joint exercise is that it shows the Soldiers here about the importance of team," Daubons said. "Showing these guys, especially on the drive up from Germany up to here that the Polish citizens can see us rolling through their towns as we travel, and that if at anytime they need us, we can just jump in our vehicles and come help them out."
Daubons stated that the joint exercise is as much a benefit for his Soldiers as it is for the Polish troops.
"Being an artilleryman, artillery is one of those world-wide things where, speaking to a Polish artilleryman, he understood how artillery works, our systems may be a little bit different but the concept is the same. So it gives me great comfort to know these guys know artillery and they can jump in our guns and see what we do, and we can go over and see what they do," said Daubons.
For Daubons, events like the joint live fire where countries and allies are brought together are invaluable, no matter the type of training that is being shared. Though he does show a bit of favoritism when it comes to artillery.
"Artillery is everything," Daubons stated with a slight smile. "I've been doing this for 21 years and I'm going to keep doing it. I always try to teach my Soldiers that they have to love what they do otherwise, what's the point?"
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