 From Soldiers Radio and Television, this is the Army Today, a daily feature from around the globe. Soldiers of the 427th Field Artillery Regiment are sending rounds downrange. The second heavy brigade combat team soldiers are conducting a live fire exercise as part of the Network Integration Evaluation, or NIE 12.2, a semiannual capabilities assessment of new military technology. The heavy metal batteries are firing 155mm shells from the M-777 Howitzer and the M-109 Paladin, using live ammunition to keep the training as realistic as possible. I always have to say proficient at it. You can train all you want in the motor pool, dry fire, but it's not real training unless you actually get to do your job, shoot live in the field environment. As part of the NIE, Ford observers and fire control are evaluating new communications equipment that integrates with the Warfighter Information Network Tactical, or WNT-Increment II, a high-speed satellite communications network that accelerates operations and improves mission performance. It's been very beneficial, but now that we've got the flow of information going the way we want it to go, like I said earlier, it's allowing us to talk faster, get that airspace cleared so it can shoot faster, get accurate and timely rounds on target when the maneuver unit needs it. Something like that will be provided to senior Army leadership at the end of the NIE to assist in the decision on acquiring the new technology. Soldiers must continue to train throughout their time in the Army, and the inclusion of new equipment during the NIE gives them even more of an opportunity to learn. But as heavy-metal soldiers experience the tests, there's just no substitute for the real thing. That's the Army Today from Soldiers Radio and Television.