 First, Section Bravo Battery 1-9 Field Artillery from Fort Sture, Georgia have been conducting intensive training and fire missions to support operations in Urazgan Province, Afghanistan. The gunners, based out of Fort Operating Base Hadrian and Deraywood District, are two months into their deployment. They are tasked with providing offensive support to combine Team Urazgan missions using M77A2 Howitzers. It's nice to be out here, especially whenever not too many people back in the United States have a chance to come out here and do everything you can for your country. The M77A2 is a towed 155mm artillery piece that fires high-explosive illumination and GPS-guided Excalibur rounds. The weapon system was deployed by the US Army and Marine Corps to Afghanistan in December 2007, and the Excalibur projectile was first deployed in March 2008. First sections are on constant standby to provide support at any time during the day or night to counter direct hostilities or illuminate an area for friendly forces. When it lights up the air, so troops on ground can see what's going on if they're in contact they actually see where the enemy is at. So it helps them out tremendously. So it's very important that we get those round out as fast as possible so the troops afford can see what's going on. The gunners of 1-9 Field Artillery will continue providing their specialist capability in Tool-Fob Hadrian is drawn down in mid-2013. This is Captain Jesse Plats reporting for Combine Team Urazgan.