CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait As most who have deployed know, a unit draws a large supply of equipment before deploying. So, in anticipation of their deployment, the soldiers of Fort Sill's 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery did exactly that.

At the beginning of September 2012, the unit's batteries drew what the Army calls "rolling stock," equipment on wheels, from a nearby camp in Kuwait. During that draw, B Battery drew the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher.

Just as a child receives a gift at Christmas, the immediate desire was to test it out and make sure that it worked. That is exactly what the soldiers and officers of B Battery did Sept. 9.

"This is our bread and butter! It is always nice to be the first out of the gate, bragging rights, if you will," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Manookin, launcher crew chief.

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