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Cannon crewmen from Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, “punch” the barrel of an M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer to clear it of ammunition during a combined live-fire exercise July 21, 2015, at Udairi Range Complex, Kuwait. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Grady Jones)
By Staff Sgt. Grady Jones
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
UDAIRI RANGE COMPLEX, Kuwait — Soldiers from Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, participated in a combined-arms live-fire exercise July 20-23, 2015.
“We’re here supporting the maneuver units with live artillery fire,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Mitchell, platoon sergeant, Battery B, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg.
The unit is currently deployed to Southwest Asia where it is conducting a theater reserve and partnership mission. The brigade combat team is conducting large-scale training events over the next several weeks, building on its level of proficiency as an expeditionary ready force.
The battery was prepared to support any fire mission needed, from high explosive to providing concealment with smoke rounds using their M109A6 Paladin self-propelled Howitzer.
“Units use the smoke screen rounds to provide concealment for breeching obstacles and high-explosive rounds for designated targets,” said Mitchell.
Deemed as the “King of Battle,” artillery is a combat multiplier, especially with technological advances through the years, said Mitchell.
“I’ve been in the Army for over 20 years,” he said. “Technology over the years has improved, making artillery extremely accurate and much faster to deliver.”
Throughout the exercise Soldiers of the artillery battery trained and responded to calls for fire from the maneuvering element. The supporting artillery rounds were delivered from areas far away from the requesting units.
For the artillery, the fire direction control center (FDC) and training is key to effectively putting artillery rounds where desired.
“The FDC controls how the guns fire, and we train on using it a lot,” said Spc. Dante Williams, automated tactical data systems specialist, Battery B, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg. “We are very proficient in initiating fire missions, processing meteorological and survey data, and maintaining the records of fire.”
Soldiers of the field artillery battalion have been part of every training event within the brigade combat team.
“Providing fires during a training event helps to increase leadership abilities within our unit as well as the other battalions that we are supporting,” said Spc. Daniel Storeygard, automated tactical data systems specialist, Battery B, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg.
