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3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery's (3-319 AFAR's) mission had several specified and implied tasks to accomplish to prepare the battalion to operate as the maneuver Task Force (TF) Gun Devils that was also responsible for all FA fires and radars in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) VI. TF Gun Devils was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Combined TF (CTF) Bayonet, which was part of the Southern European Task Force (SETAF) from Vicenza, Italy. SETAF served as the Headquarters for Combined Joint TF (CJTF) 76 in Afghanistan for OEF VI.
Transition into a Maneuver TF. In addition to individual-and unit-level training requirements, TF Gun Devils six-month transition into a maneuver TF started with two SETAF command post exercises (CPXs). The second CPX had the battalion operating with CTF Bayonet. Afterward, the battalion deployed as part of its 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 82nd Airborne Division, TF Devil, to the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California, for a leader training program.
For both the CPX and NTC leader training program, TF Gun Devils was task-organized with appropriate units, had an AO and was issued maneuver-specific missions from the brigade commander. These training events led to the development of tactical operations standing operating procedures (TACSOP), to include incorporating a fellow battalion commander's internal review checklist (3-504 PIR), for all unit operations: infiltration; exfiltration; command and control; resupply; "reserve," which was defined as fire support, immediate and quick-reaction forces (QRFs); close air support (CAS); and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC). During moments of hasty decision making, this checklist proved to be extremely beneficial.
Additional Personnel. TF Gun Devils mission analysis to quickly transition into a maneuver battalion was greatly enhanced by its plans officer, an FA captain who had attended the Infantry Officer's Career Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the preparation for and throughout the OEF VI deployment, TF Gun Devils 3-319 AFAR Preparing to Deploy as a Maneuver and Fires Task Force was resourced with additional personnel from both TF Devil and CTF Bayonet.
The battalion S3 section received an infantry captain and sergeant first class as the deputy operations officer and operations NCO, respectively.
To increase its operational intelligence effectiveness, TF Gun Devils received a military intelligence (MI) captain and two lieutenants....