FORT CARSON, Colo. — Cannon crew members with 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, load an artillery round into an M77 howitzer during Ivy Mass June 8, 2022, at Fort Carson. This is the first time in U.S. Army history that joint assets have been controlled at the division level to enable effects from land up to space. (Photo by Pfc. Joshua Zayas)
By Pvt. Traquez Coe and Pfc. Joshua Zayas
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Boom! Cannon crew members yelled call signs to each other as they loaded a round into a smoking M777 howitzer.
Like well-trained dancers, cannoneers loaded another round while other members of the section simultaneously pushed the round up into the device’s propeller with a ramrod. A moment of peaceful silence elapsed before another earth-shaking round fired.
On June 8, 2022, during a weeklong division fire support coordination exercise, cannon crew members assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shot artillery rounds out of howitzers during Ivy Mass at Fort Carson. Ivy Mass was a joint live-fire exercise in which military personnel, equipment and capabilities from across various service branches were tested on a division-level from ground to space, and cyberspace, incorporating all assets to converge fires simultaneously onto designated targets.
“It shows huge strides in what the U.S. Army is doing right now with its forces,” said Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Zaffke, a cannon crew member assigned to 2nd Bn.,12th FA Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “It shows allies and enemies we still are, and always will be, a force to be reckoned with.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Ivy Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pull on an M777 howitzer lanyard during Ivy Mass June 8 at Fort Carson. During the event, 4th Inf. Div. M77 howitzer crews from 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. and 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., engaged with surface-to-surface fires in a simulated battle. (Photo by Pfc. Joshua Zayas)
During Ivy Mass, 28 M777 howitzers, long-ranged projectile weapons, which fire at high angles of ascent and descent, were used to engage targets with surface-to-surface fires. Utilizing the Ivy Division’s precision artillery, sections were able to complete the task at hand, which was to effectively engage and destroy a simulated enemy.
“Cannon crew members are a different breed,” said Zaffke. “It takes serious platoon and unit cohesion. These guys do a very dangerous job every day, and if they can’t rely on the man or woman to the left and right of themselves, then some serious foul play could happen, and someone could get hurt.”
Throughout the event, the Ivy Division provided command and control for other branches such as the Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force to demonstrate the division’s lethality, readiness and leadership.
“Having all of us conduct this joint fire operation proves that we are a well-oiled machine,” said Staff Sgt. Austin Blocker, a gunnery sergeant with 2nd Bn.,12th FA Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “Being able to come out here with howitzers, air assets, space assets and everything we have, and being able to fit together like a puzzle shows we operate at a much higher and different level than everyone else.”
Ivy Mass marks the first time in the Army’s history in which joint assets worked under one command at the division level.