First Lt. Benjamin Lambert of Kannapolis, N.C., fires
First Lt. Benjamin Lambert of Kannapolis, N.C., fires support officer for Blackfoot Troop, talks through a rehearsal on a terrain board built specially to support the training exercise. Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squ... More
Sgt. Brandon Bikki is on point for his platoon from
Sgt. Brandon Bikki is on point for his platoon from Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke as they return to Combat Outpost Khilaguy, Afghanistan, after a reconnaissance ... More
A mortar is captured right after being launched by
A mortar is captured right after being launched by mortarmen, Pfc. Klye Wilkinson, of Macclenny, Fla., and Pfc. Setzer, Richard, of Mattoon, Ill., mortarmen in Apache Troop during a training event on Nov. 10, ... More
Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Zentz (left) prepares to load
Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Zentz (left) prepares to load a mortar round for Sgt. Angel Garcia to fire in hand held mode. This initial live fire demonstrated the proper procedures to fire the M224 60mm mortar system... More
Before the smoke on one tube has a chance to settle,
Before the smoke on one tube has a chance to settle, another mortar round is already staged to be fired under the direction of the forward observer. The mortarmen of Blackfoot Troop train daily to ensure they c... More
Spc. Byron Estavillo, a forward observer in Blackfoot
Spc. Byron Estavillo, a forward observer in Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke, gazes downrange at the rounds being called in during a fire support coordination exerci... More
Capt. Richard Varner, Apache Troop's commander from
Capt. Richard Varner, Apache Troop's commander from Whispering Pines, N.C., and 2nd Lt. Gavin Master, the fire support officer from Boonsboro, Md., discuss the best location to establish their mortar firing pos... More
Pfc. Diante Roots, of Tampa, Fla., and Pfc. Schroeder,
Pfc. Diante Roots, of Tampa, Fla., and Pfc. Schroeder, Amadeus, of Gillett, Wis., mortarmen in Apache Troop ducks down after firing off a mortar during a training exercise on Nov. 10, 2013. Soldiers are assign... More
Afghan National Army soldiers adjust the M224 60mm
Afghan National Army soldiers adjust the M224 60mm mortar system onto target. Blackfoot Troop continues to instruct noncommissioned officers of the Afghan National Army in order to enable them to use such knowl... More
Binoculars in hand, ready to watch where the round
Binoculars in hand, ready to watch where the round lands, Pvt. Joseph Campbell of Cary, Ill., covers his ears to reduce the shock from the blast of a 60mm mortar being fired by Pfc. Alex Ackman of Indianapolis,... More
Sgt. Nicholas King overlooks the valley as Pfc. Tyler
Sgt. Nicholas King overlooks the valley as Pfc. Tyler Bonefield, covers his sector of fire with the M240B machine gun during a reconnaissance patrol near Combat Outpost Khilaguy on Aug. 29, 2013. Both soldiers ... More
Pfc. Quintin Nelson of Charlotte, N.C., Pfc. William
Pfc. Quintin Nelson of Charlotte, N.C., Pfc. William Calvert of Brownsburg, Ind., and Pfc. Luke Hudson of Van Buren, Ariz., mortarmen in Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, fire 120mm mortar ro... More
Spc. Aaron Greenwood, Pfc. Amadeus Schroeder, and Pfc.
Spc. Aaron Greenwood, Pfc. Amadeus Schroeder, and Pfc. Peter Papalexis, mortarmen in 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, establish their observation post as the s... More
An Afghan National Army noncommissioned officer instructs
An Afghan National Army noncommissioned officer instructs other Afghan soldiers on the safety standards of the 60mm mortar system. Blackfoot Troop continues to instruct noncommissioned officers of the Afghan Na... More
Sgt. Bratten, Kenneth, of Brodnax, Va., Spc. Smith,
Sgt. Bratten, Kenneth, of Brodnax, Va., Spc. Smith, Ethan, of Dardanelle, Ark., and Pfc. Obradovich, Nicholas, of Grandville, Mich., forward observers in Apache Troop during a mortar live fire exercise on Nov. ... More
Forward observers in 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment,
Forward observers in 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, establish their observation post as the sun begins to rise over the mountains near Combat Outpost Khilagu... More
Sgt. Charles Hyatt of Chicago, Ill., provides security
Sgt. Charles Hyatt of Chicago, Ill., provides security with the EBR sniper rifle during on Nov. 10th, 2013. Sgt Hyatt is assigned to 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Di... More
Spc. Ethan Smith, a forward observer, and Staff Sgt.
Spc. Ethan Smith, a forward observer, and Staff Sgt. Waldemar Ruiz, the fire support noncommissioned officer in charge, of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, look downrange at their impacting rounds from their observation ... More
Sgt. Peter Iatrou, a cavalry scout in Blackfoot Troop,
Sgt. Peter Iatrou, a cavalry scout in Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke, instructs mortarman, Pfc. Alex Ackman, on proper use of the M9 pistol during a range at Comba... More
A 120mm mortar is fired during a training exercise
A 120mm mortar is fired during a training exercise by Blackfoot Troop on Sept. 23, 2013. Soldiers are assigned to 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, deployed in... More
Apache Troop mortarmen fire the first round of the
Apache Troop mortarmen fire the first round of the day for their mortar live fire exercise at Combat Outpost Khilaguy on Nov. 9, 2013. To properly emplace their system, two soldiers must stand on the baseplate ... More
Sgt. David Gray from Aluchua County, Fla., and Pfc.
Sgt. David Gray from Aluchua County, Fla., and Pfc. James Wilson of Alma, Ark., bound during Blackfoot Troop’s live fire exercise at the range on Oct. 22, 2013. Soldiers are assigned to 6th Squadron, 4th Caval... More
Pvt. 1st Class William Calvert and Pvt. Quintin Nelson,
Pvt. 1st Class William Calvert and Pvt. Quintin Nelson, mortarman with Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavarly Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke, load their 120mm mortar is support of a Fire Support Coordin... More
Spc. Zachary Fisher, a medic in Blackfoot Troop, 6th
Spc. Zachary Fisher, a medic in Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke, provides rear security while moving along a ridge during an early morning reconnaissance patrol nea... More
Dawn breaks during a reconnaissance and surveillance
Dawn breaks during a reconnaissance and surveillance patrol around Combat Outpost Khilaguy revealing soldiers of Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke, on Aug. 29, 2013. ... More
A cavalry scout in Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th
A cavalry scout in Blackfoot Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke, moves along a ridge during an early morning reconnaissance patrol near Combat Outpost Khilaguy, Afghanistan, on ... More