accurate
Xenophon,
As a former Army FA officer (switched to Intel in June), you are correct in your statement. My BN spent half a year training to do convoy security, then deployed for a year. Upon return, we received a West Point training mission to train infantry skills, then received a warno for a SECFOR deployment. One battery actually touched its howitzers that year, but only for a few months. The SECFOR mission was scratched one month out, and the BN then had to relearn FA after almost 3 years off. As a senior 1LT, junior CPT with 3 months as a FDO, I was one of the most experienced Artillery officers. Sad, but true.
It took a lot of hard work, time in the classroom, MTTs, and many days in the field to relearn what was lost. Adding to that, they fielded the new m777 and all its systems, having to learn the new platform. When the unit finally received a DEPORD, the mission changed again, adding a Radar battery, and Security platoon missions. So now, only half the BN will get FA experience, and quite a few NCOs and 13B's are now reclassed for radar or are guarding a compound.
I just heard from a friend that the BN is putting steel on bad guys as I type this, so the work paid off, but it was not an easy path. There are a couple yeargroups of junior officers, Soldiers, and NCO's that did/will not get Artillery training for several formative years. Soldiers accomplish the mission they are given, but with all the talk of growing the force, there are not enough Infantry or Armor units to perform all the required tasks, so FA and other branches will continue to pay the price.
Fort Sill released the Army FA Campaign Plan last year, and it offers fixes to the problem, but unless FA is allowed to refocus and stop bill-paying, the problem will get worse. As for the technology, as with every new system, a MTT "trains the trainer" who serves as the unit SME until they PCS. It is assumed leaders and Soldiers will figure out the technology as they go along. Just like CPOF.
Originally Posted by Xenophon
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