Washington Guard strengthens drone and mortar capabilities

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, tested how unmanned aircraft systems can support mortar crews during their September drill at Yakima Training Center Sept. 17-19.

The training brought together Soldiers from the 3-161st Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, and 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, for a mortar training and evaluation program, or MORTEP. The battalion's mortar platoon certified on both 81mm and 120mm systems while working with forward observers from the 2-146th Field Artillery.

A central objective was to connect unmanned aircraft to the process of identifying targets and directing indirect fire. Using Bumblebee and Black Widow platforms, Soldiers tested their ability to locate targets, obtain grid coordinates, observe mortar rounds and assist with battle damage assessment.

"September provided great opportunities to learn how we will fight as a team at NTC," said Lt. Col. Josh Brown, commander of the 3-161st Infantry Regiment. "Our training objective was to successfully incorporate UAS systems into the indirect fire sensor-to-shooter chain. We exceeded expectations."

The exercise also gave mortar crews and fire supporters a chance to build working relationships ahead of the battalion's planned National Training Center rotation. Brown credited the 2-146th Field Artillery's fire support team for its role in the evaluation.

"Fire supporters were critical to the battalion's success during the MORTEP and in connecting UAS to our indirect fire capabilities," Brown said.

During breaks in the evaluation, Soldiers conducted troop-leading procedures and became familiar with the drone systems in preparation for upcoming force-on-force training. The battalion also completed scheduled Program Executive Office Soldier equipment fielding ahead of schedule.

Brown said the battalion's October and November drills will move that preparation into the field. Platoons and companies will practice operating together while incorporating fire support officers, logistics resupply and casualty evacuation.

"These drills will provide the foundation for how platoons and companies fight and support NTC," Brown said.

Capt. Mike Sebastionelli, commander of Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, sees the training as improving his unit's confidence ahead of future drill weekends.

"Ultimately the event improved team confidence in operating UAS-enabled indirect fire systems under field conditions and provided answers to questions about the ability to synchronize the two elements," Sebastionelli said. "We were able to demonstrate that UAS can improve target acquisition, rounds observation and battle damage assessment by linking UAS-enabled targeting with mortar operations. September marked an important step in strengthening our role in the battalion's combined arms fight and will shape how we train for more complex collective tasks in the coming months."