Mortarmen Stay Proficient, New Forward Observers Call Shots
DVIDS - News - Mortarmen Stay Proficient, New Forward Observers Call Shots
“Fire Mission! Marines, get to your guns,” yells Sgt. Jacob B. Elliot, a mortar section leader with 81mm Platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
Corporal Jeremiah Fernandez from the Fire Direction Control yells grid coordinates, which, in return the Marines repeat loudly so no one has an excuse. “Gun 2, deflection, two, seven, zero, zero,” the FDC Marine yells. “Roger. Two, seven, zero, zero,” yells Cpl. David Rohwer, the Gun Two leader and Pflugerville, Texas native.
Gun Two shoots first, as the other two gun positions refer to their corrections, ensuring all positions are all parallel.
Fernandez yells out more descriptive coordinates to the Gun 2 Marines, to which, Rohwer repeats, “Gun Two, deflection. Three, one, seven, eight, charge two! Elevation, one, two, four, niner!” Rohwer’s Marines send rounds down range.
The Marines with 81mm Platoon repeated the fire mission throughout their first day of training. They spent July 24-26 at MP-2 and MP-3 ranges, using the crawl, walk, run methodology.
From the outside looking in, accurately placing indirect mortar fire on enemy positions, where in most situations Marines can’t see the enemy, looks tough enough.
The “infantrymen’s artillery”, as the mortar community is sometimes referred to, is responsible for assisting advancing infantry ground units in any situation deemed unsustainable.
“It’s not that hard,” said Lance Cpl. Adam Flores, a mortarman and Baytown, Texas, native. “Obviously, if you do something over and over again, it comes (naturally) to you.”