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Artillerymen improve readiness in Fuji

US Marine Corps News

11/23/2011
By Lance Cpl. Erik S. Brooks Jr., Marine Corps Bases Japan

NORTH FUJI MANEUVER AREA, Camp Fuji, Japan -- Communicators with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, provided critical communications assets necessary for artillery relocation training Nov. 16.

The communication Marines, part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, play a vital role in enabling the artillery battalion to command and control its three firing batteries, facilitating its chief mission of providing fire support to the infantry.

“Communications in the field is vital to the battalion’s operations,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel C. Duff, radio chief for Hotel Battery, 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. “Without communications, no one can talk to and coordinate with each other.”

Duff’s main mission is to oversee the placement of the wires and radios. As part of the advance party, Duff and the communications Marines get into the field first and get to work immediately.

The Marines begin by conducting a security sweep of the area to make sure it is clear, said Lance Cpl. Alexander C. Perry, a wireman with the battalion. After the security sweep, the Marines scout their location to determine the best placement of the communications base.

After the location is set, a Marine runs wires to each position, according to Perry.

“I run standard slash wire to each gun, the commanding officer, executive officer and fire direction center,” Perry said. “This ensures that upon arrival they have communications with one another.”

About 500 yards of wire is manually laid on the ground to each position, Perry said.

While the wires are being run, other communications Marines are setting up omni-directional element 254s, or OEs. These long antennas are the communication back bone of the battalion, regiment and fire support coordination center.

“Setting up the 16 foot OEs is a difficult task,” Perry said. “Each one requires 10 poles, guy lines, a feed cone and a coaxial cable that connects to a Humvee.”

Once the initial communications are set up, the Marines radio to regimental range control and the FSCC.

“We call into them because we have to occupy the position for 24 hours before the battalion is allowed to fire downrange,” Perry said. “This is a requirement (in order) to get firing as soon as possible.”

When in the field, the communications Marines’ main goal is to get all their communications assets up and running before anyone else arrives, Duff said.

“Without us, the battalion can’t execute its main mission, which is to shoot the howitzers and provide support to the infantry,” Duff said.