ANA artillery soldiers train on howitzers

PAKTIKA PROVINCE – After months of preparation, the ANA artillery soldiers, along with Currahee troops from HHB, 4th Bn, 320th FAR, 4th BCT, 101st AD, conducted their first live firer. The whole training cycle lasts 90 days. It began in Oct., but was delayed while the ANA Soldiers were taught how to read and write, so they could better understand the data, explained Army Master Sgt. David Williams of Fort Campbell, Ky., NCO-in-charge of the training.

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The all-encompassing instruction started with the ANA forward observers identifying the target, and sending the necessary targeting info to the fire direction center. The ANA soldiers at the FDC then learned how to process the info, and convert it for the cannon crewmembers. The crewmembers then learned how to take the info from the FDC, and make the aiming adjustments necessary to accurately hit the target. “Before, we didn’t know how to operate these weapons, but since the Currahee Soldiers arrived we've been able to learn how to fire it, and can accurately fire the gun without fear of civilian casualties,” said ANA Col. Fataa, ops officer. “This is a great day for our soldiers, our army, and Afghanistan,” said Fataa. “I’m really proud that my soldiers went through this training, and now have more skills to use in protecting our country,” said ANA 1st Sgt. Rahman, Artillery Btry 1st sgt. Training will continue into the early spring with the ANA artillerymen, as they shift their training focus to maintaining readiness. The ANA’s D-30s will be positioned alongside TF Currahee’s M119 and M777 howitzers by late spring, and into early summer throughout Paktika Prov. The D-30 first came into production in the 1960s, and these particular guns were acquired after the Soviet Union Army left them behind in 1988. The howitzers were serviced, validated and cleared for use.

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