FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
If you have ever attended or witnessed a ceremony at Fort Eustis, chances are you have felt the concussion of cannon fire. Whether in memoriam of the fallen, in honor of the nation or simply in celebration of a retirement, the Soldiers of the 7th Sustainment Brigade Salute Battery stand ready to deliver the volleys of tribute.
The Salute Battery features a rotation of Soldiers assigned to the subordinate companies of the 7th Sus. Bde. Troops spend 90 days on the detail, and participate by unit. Most recently, the 155th Inland Cargo Transfer Company offered personnel to man the battery's 35-millimeter cannons.
Retirement ceremonies, changes of command for senior officers, and national tributes, such as the annual Independence Day 50-gun salute, are common venues for the Salute Battery to man the cannons at the post.
Staff Sgt. Junior Oto, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Salute Battery, said the detail performs approximately 50 ceremonies each year. The team can use anywhere from one to 50 rounds in a single performance, depending on the circumstances of the event.
Most routine, however, is the time-honored tradition of "Reveille," the daily ceremony in which the colors are raised over the garrison, signaling the beginning of the duty day. Seven days a week, the Salute Battery raises the flag, and fires a lone shot from the cannon at Seay Plaza.
Spc. Ernesto Arenas, a 155th ICTC Soldier currently serving in the Salute Battery, said serving on "cannon detail" is a "great experience," as it provides Soldiers a rare opportunity to operate the cannons.
"In our normal job, we're in transportation, where we spend most of the time driving around. On this detail, we get to fire the cannon every day, seven days a week," Arenas said. "Not everyone gets to go out and fire a cannon every morning. It's cool."
Arenas said companies spend a week training with the unit they are replacing on cannon mechanics, maintenance and cleaning techniques prior to firing. As expected, the battery does not use live ammunition, opting for "blanks," which present the muzzle blast and sound of live rounds without the projectile.
Oto and Arenas agreed that teamwork is the most critical skill applied while serving in the battery. The daily duty in the early morning requires individual and group accountability to ensure the ritual occurs on time and in proper military form. For ceremonies, each Soldier needs to know their role and be able to execute their maneuvers safely and cleanly, to maintain the pomp and circumstance of the event.
"We have to be prepared every day to wake up early and fire the cannon for the entire base," Arenas said. "The most important thing is being where youre supposed to be. The whole team makes the ceremony happen. If one person's missing, it throws off the entire team."