BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland - Spc. Patrick Pierson, assistant gunner, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery (2-3 FA), NATO Forward Land Forces (FLF) Battle Group-Poland, currently forward-deployed to Bemowo Piskie Training Area (BPTA), Poland, is a highly motivated, focused, and effective soldier.

He began his career after years in the civilian sector as a UPS manager, helping with shipping and receiving packages. Pierson joined at 28 as a family man looking for a military career he knew would benefit his family.

"I initially enlisted to better myself, but also to better my family," said Pierson.

Pierson, currently an assistant gunner with 2-3 FA, started his military career in a Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicle, helping move ammunition to the M109A7 Paladin.

To become an assistant gunner in a Paladin, you have to show initiative and take a test to prove your knowledge of the equipment.

When talking about the junior enlisted level 10 tests, which evaluates basic, hands-on, and foundational artillery knowledge, and the level 30 test, which evaluates a Soldier's ability to act as a Howitzer Section Chief, Spc. Carlos Aldana, assistant gunner, 2-3 FA, NATO FLF Battle Group-Poland, said, "In the artillery world, I feel like there's always going to be competition with everyone else. You've got to be just better."

Aldana and Pierson are in the same position in the Paladin but in different sections, go to the gym often together and motivate one another.

"For the most part, we usually like to give each other tips so that we can improve as a platoon and as a battery itself, but within our sections, there's always a lot of competition," said Aldana. "I like to say my section is the fastest, but he likes to say his section is the fastest."

Besides his camaraderie with Aldana, Pierson also says his team, which started as a new crew in March when they first arrived at BPTA, has become better at working together.

"I know my chief wants something a certain way and he can verify the ammo and primer chargers pretty quickly," said Pierson.

Pierson's role is to help his gunner and chief load the ammo onto the ramming tray and pull the string that ignites the round.

Pierson said, "The job, instead of carrying an M4 around with you, is that you can shoot on wheels and actually move out of the way…be very strategic and sneaky as well."

Artillery batteries assist infantry and cavalry Soldiers with long-range indirect fire, as well as tracer rounds that light up the night sky and provide more visibility in nighttime operations.

When Pierson returns home he is looking forward to spending time with his infant son, who was born before he departed, his wife, and two daughters.

He is also coming up on his board to be promoted to sergeant.

Of his deployment to Poland, he said, "...obviously gave me a lot more opportunities to learn than just the regular civilian life of working a nine-to-five," said Pierson.

He also said it's been a different feeling working outside the U.S. and also working with other countries as part of the NATO FLF Battle Group-Poland.

Pierson, who has already worked regular jobs, says about his Army career, "Honestly, I plan to stay until I can retire."