CAMP KARLIKI RANGE, Poland -- Field Artillery Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment (Pacesetters), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted live-fire gunnery certifications May 25, 2017 at Camp Karliki Range, Poland in preparation for Combined Resolve IX.
Bravo Battery executed table six, which is one of the basic section certifications that incorporates the fire direction center and the Howitzer firing sections. It allows battery leaders and Soldiers to retrain on the fundamentals, and it provides an opportunity to evaluate new crewmembers.
"We've incorporated new leadership and new section members at individual positions," said 1st Lt. Samuel Quintas, Fire Direction Officer, Bravo Battery, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Regt., 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. "So assessing their performances and preparing them for high tempo missions like Combined Resolve IX is critical to mission success."
Combat readiness is a top priority for 3rd Bn., 29th FA Regt., 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, during their nine-month deployment as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. During their rotation through the European theater, Bravo Battery conducted and qualified on tables 1-18 at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland earlier this year.
Training in Europe, with Allies, or training as a unit on NATO soil provides a unique opportunity to hone in skills and retains the ability to integrate indirect fires during future combined arms exercises.
"With personnel changes, re-conducting these qualifications sustains the ability to shoot safely, accurately and efficiently," said Capt. Ryan George, Commander, Bravo Battery, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Regt., 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, "Moving forward, it is important for our battery to have qualified and efficient crewmembers. Which will enable us to progress into further gunnery tables for future combined exercises this summer."
With the previous qualifications and conducting today's additional certifications, the training allows the battery to build on the leaders' and soldiers' proficiency level, enabling the unit to improve its capabilities going forward.
"Executing gunnery influences readiness in two ways; it allows new crews to complete the certifications they need, and it also allows the crews that are still certified from previous training, to get more repetitions in. This makes them more efficient with their crew drills as we prep from future combined exercise," said George.
With a robust schedule of multinational exercises and continuous combined training, 3rd ABCT's support of Operation Atlantic Resolve is being referred to as "The Year of Execution."
"As far as 'The Year of Execution' goes, this shows that our battery can operate anywhere at anytime," a confident Quintas said. "It has been constant non-stop training since we've arrived, and tying in with our coalition allies within NATO demonstrates that we can face any threat as a combined force."
Rotating troops to establish a continuous U.S. Army Armored Brigade Combat Team through Europe enhances exercise participation and assures Allies of the commitment to NATO. These "heel-to-toe" rotations demonstrate a strong signal of the United States' commitment to strengthening the defensive and deterrent capabilities.
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