Marine Corps ETT, 2-77 Field Artillery Steel Warriors train ANA in artillery

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Forward Operating Base Kalagush’s Marine Corps Embedded Training Team 5-5 and with Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, teamed up to train Afghan National Army soldiers on the D-30 122mm Russian Howitzer, Nov. 11.

“The ANA do artillery training five times a week, along with infantry tactics, and they conduct patrols to show locals they have government presence within their area,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, the team’s leader and a Sitka, Alaska native.

The artillerymen were firing at a site used by anti-Afghanistan forces to launch attacks on FOB Kalagush. It was the first time the ANA fired in a counter-fire operational mission.

“I have taken it on as my personal mission to ensure these men of the ANA are capable of doing independent firing operations,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Bn., 77th FA commander and Mayfield, Ky. native.

The ANA went through a seven-week certification program, similar to the training that U.S. Army artillerymen receive to be certified on their weapons.

“If we can’t get them operating independently and have them do their job without us, then we’re failing our mission,” Forsyth said. “Part of our combined action plan for them is to become sound, confident artillerymen and have the ability to secure their nation.”

Once the ANA finished the certification process, Marines and Soldiers hope they will be able to do their own firing missions and man their own weapons 24 hours a day, like the Coalition forces on FOB Kalagush do.