|
U.S. and New Zealand artillery Soldiers shared their experience
and knowledge during the multi-week Lightning Whaitiri exercise on
Oahu and Hawaii islands Sept. 5-23, 2015.
Soldiers with Bravo
Battery, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, trained with the 163 Battery, 16 Field Regiment, Royal
New Zealand Artillery, here, and at Wheeler Army Airfield and at
Pohakuloa Training Area on the island of Hawaii.
|
U.S. Soldiers with Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment and New Zealander's with 163rd Battery, 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, standing together at Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii, Sept. 17, 2015. The soldiers trained together in a mixed artillery unit during the Lightning Whaitiri exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Armando R. Limon, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division)
|
Maj. Sam Bayley, commander, 163 Battery, explained
gunners from both nations conducted day and night live-fire
exercises, cultural immersion, and sling and cold load
operations during the exercise.
“Since we have
arrived, we have conducted five-day, live-firing exercise,
where we integrated the New Zealanders with the American
crews, so each detachment had a mix of New Zealanders and
Americans,” Bayley said.
At total, 57 New Zealand soldiers
trained with Bravo Battery.
“We certified the Kiwi
gun detachment to the standard that is required for the U.S.
Army,” Bayley said.
Capt. Richie Appleton, battery
captain, 163 Battery, found there were similarities, but
differences in training and practice with artillery. The
overall experience was positive between both nations.
“It's been good for our soldiers to see how the U.S.
Army artillery operates,” Appleton said. “This increases our
interoperability.”
U.S. troops taught the New
Zealanders how to properly cold load an M119A3 105 mm
howitzer into a Chinook helicopter and then rapidly remove
it at WAAF, Sept. 17.
“Today is rehearsals in
preparation for our air assault to PTA on Friday,” said
Capt. Tom Shepherd, commander, Battery B.
The
exercise at PTA is a culmination of efforts between both
nations to show that the training paid off.
“We're
going to belly-load two M119A3s, conduct a raid where the
bird will land,” Appleton said. “We'll load the gun off,
fire rounds and wheel the gun back on to the bird to a
tactical location.”
Gunner Daniel Ousey, 163 Battery,
explained his cold load training at Wheeler prior to going
to PTA.
“Rigging up the guns and seeing how it's done
from the other side like the air assaults,” Ousey said.
“We'll be rigging them up, chucking them on the helicopters
and getting used to how it is done going up and down.”
He found his own experience with Battery B and in Hawaii
downright enjoyable.
“I think it's awesome,” he said.
“It's good to see how it's done differently and the change
of scenery. It is beautiful here.”
Spc. Ramon Huerta,
field artillery automated tactical data systems specialist,
Bravo Battery, said his own experience with the Kiwi gunners
was enjoyable too.
“It's a good experience,” Huerta
said. “It's good learning how they train compared to what we
do.”
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Armando Limon
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
Comment on this article |
