HIJUDAI MANEUVER AREA, OITA, Japan --
Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment started the firing portion of Artillery Relocation Training 11-4 at the Hijudai Maneuver Area Feb. 10.
The regiment, part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducts four artillery relocation training sessions annually at five different locations in mainland Japan to maintain proficiency in its primary mission of providing artillery fire to maneuver units.
“The training is good for the battery,” said Capt. Eric L. Jones, the commanding officer of Hotel Battery, 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. “It allows the Marines to train in an environment that is harsher than anything that they might have to deal with.”
The ground around the howitzers turned into a sea of mud as the artillery crews performed their given tasks.
The mud provided a new element for the Marines to work in, said Jones.
Despite it, the gun crews enjoyed the task at hand and competed in a little competition for the right to be called the top gun.
“Our gun was the top gun at the last exercise at Camp Fuji,” said Cpl. Jehan Keitt, an assistant section chief with Hotel Battery. “It is a competition to see which gun is the fastest, smoothest and most accurate gun on the line.”
Rounds flew from the howitzers as fire missions were called in. Even though it was training, the crews performed as though each round was the last round.
“We try to show off a little, but in the end we do the best we can do at that moment,” said Keitt.
The final firing of rounds and silencing of each gun signaled the end of the barrage, the transition for the next fire mission and occupation of new firing positions.
The mud, weather and terrain challenged the movement, but not so much as to cause any serious trouble for Hotel Battery.
“I expected the weather,” said Lance Cpl. Brandon Russ, an artilleryman with the battalion. “Apart from the mud everything is pretty nice.”