Cal Junior Pinpoints Targets on Mortar Crew
by Tyler Buiocchi
Keep calm; adjust fire. That’s the motto for Benjamin Miller, a junior at California University of Pennsylvania, who spends five weekends a year going to mandatory live-fire exercises to train with his mortar crew in the Army.
“It’s very rewarding to send rounds down range,” Miller said.
Born and raised in Carlisle, Miller led a busy high school life, filled with lacrosse games and victory earned on the football field. He decided to come to Cal U to pursue a career in homeland security. It was in his freshman year of college that Miller made the life-changing decision to serve and protect his country.
Coordinating with Sgt. Jesse Maund at the recruiting office in California, Miller found a position that he would fit right into -- the mortar crew. Miller goes to drill for one weekend a month but does not always fire the mortar.
“Most of the time we learn about updated systems and any changes or improvements that the sergeants see fit, as well as going back over the things that we have learned in prior weeks,” Miller said.
It is only about once every two months that the soldiers participate in the live-fire exercises.
“It’s one of the most exhilarating things that I’ve ever been a part of,” Miller said. ”It’s very rewarding to see a successful impact.”
Miller’s position on the mortar crew is to home in on the target as the soldiers launch the mortars. The rounds average roughly 35 pounds each.
Although every member of the crew has an integral part in launching rounds down range, adjusting for wind and the distance of the target is arguably the most important task.
“Through the intensive training that we conduct during the live-fire exercises, it is good to know that my team has a thorough understanding of what we do and why we do it,” Miller said. “You never know when you will get ‘the phone call.' ... It’s what we do."
Tyler Buiocchi is a California University of Pennsylvania Communication Studies major.
Keep calm; adjust fire. That’s the motto for Benjamin Miller, a junior at California University of Pennsylvania, who spends five weekends a year going to mandatory live-fire exercises to train with his mortar crew in the Army.
“It’s very rewarding to send rounds down range,” Miller said.
Born and raised in Carlisle, Miller led a busy high school life, filled with lacrosse games and victory earned on the football field. He decided to come to Cal U to pursue a career in homeland security. It was in his freshman year of college that Miller made the life-changing decision to serve and protect his country.
Coordinating with Sgt. Jesse Maund at the recruiting office in California, Miller found a position that he would fit right into -- the mortar crew. Miller goes to drill for one weekend a month but does not always fire the mortar.
“Most of the time we learn about updated systems and any changes or improvements that the sergeants see fit, as well as going back over the things that we have learned in prior weeks,” Miller said.
It is only about once every two months that the soldiers participate in the live-fire exercises.
“It’s one of the most exhilarating things that I’ve ever been a part of,” Miller said. ”It’s very rewarding to see a successful impact.”
Miller’s position on the mortar crew is to home in on the target as the soldiers launch the mortars. The rounds average roughly 35 pounds each.
Although every member of the crew has an integral part in launching rounds down range, adjusting for wind and the distance of the target is arguably the most important task.
“Through the intensive training that we conduct during the live-fire exercises, it is good to know that my team has a thorough understanding of what we do and why we do it,” Miller said. “You never know when you will get ‘the phone call.' ... It’s what we do."
Tyler Buiocchi is a California University of Pennsylvania Communication Studies major.