Mortarmen 'shoot from the hip' during training

[SR-25]

by Lance Cpl. Willard J. Lathrop
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit


CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- Mortarmen with 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 3rd Marines rehearsed immediate action drills from convoy to provide immediate fire suppression Sep. 21.

Marines kicked up clouds of dust while running from invisible convoys to gun positions during "hip shoots" and fired a hasty salvo before remounting the vehicles.

The "convoy" would receive a "call" for immediate fire support, at which point the mortarmen hustled to form a gunline with their tubes as the small unit leaders took a precise compass bearing and pointed the mortars in the right direction.

"The gun is heavy, but the adrenaline makes it feel like your baby," said Pfc. Jason M. Jewett, gunner with the platoon.

After firing four simulated rounds per weapon, the guns were quickly broken down and swiftly returned to the "convoy" for rapid departure to avoid enemy detection.

"It's a rush getting my gun up first," 19-year-old Jewett said, from Santa Rosa, Calif. "And it's incredible working without saying anything because everybody knows what to do."

The gun crews endured the 108-degree heat for follow on drills, working quickly and silently to enhance their skill.

"The best part about being a mortarman is knowing that you have destruction in your hands," Lance Cpl. Jonathan Croshaw said, gunner with the platoon, who is doing exactly what he enlisted to do, traveling and blowing stuff up.

The day before, the Marines practiced live-fire convoy drills including casualty evacuation drills.

"The live-fire drills were awesome, definitely one of the top-five best times I've had in the Marine Corps," Lance Cpl. Jimmy Tighe said, assistant gunner and driver for the platoon.

The hip shoots and convoy drills were part of the acclimatization and sustainment training the BLT is conducting while currently deployed with the 31st MEU in Kuwait in preparation for possible contingencies in support of the Global War on Terrorism in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.