The moment of reckoning had come … the equipment was ready, the M109A5 Howitzer’s were ready … the gun crews were ready … everything was ready … except for the impact area.  The prolonged drought and lingering forest fires burning in the target area forced Range Control to halt all live fire exercise for the duration of the 3-112th’s Annual Training period.  The “Copperheads” would have to wait for the next opportunity.

The “Copperhead”, the first “smart” canon launched artillery round is guided to its targets once they are airborne by a laser beam “painting” the target.  An extremely sophisticated guidance system then brings the 100+ pound explosive round to the target with unerring accuracy measured in millimeters.  According to Major Bob Williams, the Battalion S-3 (Training Officer), “The hazy smoke covering the ground throughout the entire range area would not have allowed for proper lasing of the target, and therefore, the live firing of the $30,000 per item projectiles would not have been the best possible or most effective training activity.”

Despite this minor disappointment, the “red legs” of Battery D, which is headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, still had a most productive and positive two-week training experience.  The field artillerymen were able to hone their tactical maneuver and survival skills in the field-training environment and practice the sighting and targeting techniques that are critical to the effective use of artillery in battle.  Performing maintenance on vehicles, practicing loading procedures, and spending a wonderful two-weeks in the sand and scrub pine of the Fort Dix training areas all served to make the 2002 annual training cycle memorable.

Many of the troops in the 3-112th FA were mobilized for active duty following the terrorist attacks of September 11th.  Following orders from Governor James E. McGreevey and state Adjutant General Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, more than 1,700 National Guard troops were detailed to provide additional security at the Hudson River Bridges and tunnels, major airports, and the state’s nuclear facilities.  As the first anniversary of September 11th approaches, citizen-soldiers of the New Jersey National Guard, or as General Rieth prefers to call them, New Jersey’s Home Town Team are still on the job fighting on the front lines of the ongoing war against terrorism and serving the people of our great state and nation.