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Marines depart for artillery training

US Marine Corps News

6/17/2011
By Pfc. Daniel E. Valle, Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan -- More than 450 Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, departed from Okinawa to East Fuji in mainland Japan to take part in the Artillery Relocation Training Program 11-1 June 13.

The battalion, part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, will use this exercise to maintain operational readiness. The East Fuji training area is where artillery Marines train to respond effectively to potential threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The purpose of conducting artillery live fire is for us to maintain our operational readiness – our combat readiness as a unit,” said Lt. Col. Ricardo Miagany, commanding officer for 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. “It provides good training for the Marines.”

The purpose is to maintain proficiency in artillery weapons which allows Marines to be ready when called upon, said Staff Sgt. Rodrigo Arias-Hernandez, Battery gunnery sergeant, Headquarters Battery, 3rd Bn., 12th Marines.

“A key part of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines’, mission is that we are part of the Marine Corps’ unit deployment program,” said Miagany. “The headquarters of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, is made up of permanent personnel here on Okinawa, but the firing batteries come as part of the UDP for a period of six months.”

The units participating in ARTP include Headquarters Battery, 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, from Okinawa, and Kilo Battery, 3rd Bn., 10th Marines, and Romeo Battery, 5th Bn., 10th Marines, both from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Marines conduct sustainment training to remain ready to maintain peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region, said Miagany.

Firing is scheduled from June 18-30. They will also conduct crew-served weapons and small arms training at East Fuji.

“We fire crew-served weapons because we, as an artillery unit, have a lot of crew-served weapons to support and defend our artillery,” said Arias-Hernandez. “We always like to take part in this exercise because it helps to make sure that we perform to our highest standards and keeps high morale within the unit.”

Miagany agreed with the importance of refamiliarization training with crew-served weapons.

“Anytime we conduct live-fire training, we want to train with our offensive and defensive weapons systems,” said Miagany. “Our primary offensive weapon system is the (M777A2 Howitzer), but we also train with our defensive weapon systems to make sure we are able to provide fire and defend ourselves.”

This training is essential to maintaining ties and operational readiness with our Japanese allies.

“The Japan Self-Defense Force often comes to watch us and see how we perform, which helps our relationship,” said Arias-Hernandez.