By Spc. John Onuoha, 6-8 Cav., 2IBCT UPAR
FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division conducted a fire support coordination exercise at Fort Stewart, Georgia, May 12.
The exercise trained troop commanders, platoon leaders and fire support officers in planning and executing indirect fires, close combat attacks and close air support.
"This training is for platoon leaders, sergeants and troop commanders to become competent and confident in calling for fires," said 2nd Lt. Tyler Smith, an operations officer with HHT, 6-8 Cav. "It helps leaders in being able to plan effectively because Soldiers need indirect fires in order to have success in some combat situations."
Smith explained the challenges Soldiers come across during this training and how this exercise helps overcome them.
"The biggest challenge for Soldiers is trying to determine when exactly to call for fire in order to hit their target and making sure they have the right grid. That is why we are doing this training to become adept at indirect fires," Smith said. "We are doing real world training in order to simulate a real environment that Soldiers may see down the road."
Smith explained that there are some new platoon leaders and Soldiers, and they want to keep training to maintain the standard and thrive in success.
Troop commanders were able to call for fire support during the exercise to improve their efficiency, and new Soldiers were introduced to fire support training for the first time.
"We are doing this training to help Soldiers familiarize with call for fire and show them how it feels to be on the range when artillery and mortars are coming in," said Spc. Logan Vincent, a mortar man with Troop B, 6-8 Cav.
Vincent explained that scouts use fire support for most of their missions because they can spot enemy locations during a reconnaissance, and call for fire on the enemy.
"It is important because we do some notional training and Soldiers do not get to see what they are calling for during training missions. Out here they get to see what we do and the effects in real life," said Vincent.
The Army's top priority is readiness, and training like the fire support coordination exercise ensures these indirect fire infantrymen can put rounds on target when called upon, according to Vincent.
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