This was the first time Soldiers and Marines trained together in a joint field artillery exercise on Oahu. Credit: Sgt. Effie Mahugh.

US Army Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division have carried out the first joint artillery exercise with marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Makua Valley in Hawaii.

Two Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys transported the troops and equipment of Tropical Lightning to the Makuwa Valley from Schofield barracks in Hawaii.

Two Army CH-47 Chinooks carried M119A3 howitzers.

This marks the first instance where Osprey was used to transport soldiers from the Tropical Lightning for joint artillery exercises.

3-7 FAR Battalion Commander Lt Col John Gwinn said: “Getting in and planning the event from start to finish and understanding how they operate versus how we operate was pretty challenging at first.

“We couldn’t ask for a better partner to execute it with us.”

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Soldiers also carried out high-frequency communications, tactical rescue operations, and sling loading procedures when they were not in the air.

Due to the Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions, each task was presented with new challenges in a new environment.

The primary task of military commanders is to keep their troops healthy, but they are also responsible for the readiness of their troops.

This training exercise cultivated the relationship with the Marine Corps and demonstrated the capability and lethality of the command amid the global pandemic.

Gwinn added: “We continue to build upon this relationship with the marines. At the end of the day it’s a joint coalition force that is going to fight the nation’s wars.”

Last month, the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) of the United States Marine Corps participated in an integrated training event in Hawaii.