MOS 0341 Mortarman
60mm Mortar Section Leader
During Exercise Predators Run 2026 in Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia, Sergeant Herbert assumed the billet of 60mm mortar section leader just hours before crossing the line of departure. Despite lack of proper turnover and having no time to reconnoiter mortar firing positions before Blackfoot Company's insert, Sergeant Herbert quickly oriented on the tactical planning requirements for the impending force-on-force exercise and live-fire ranges. Upon crossing the line of departure for platoon supported live fire attacks, his unwavering leadership, calmness under pressure, and steadfast dedication to mission success allowed the section to rapidly identify and occupy a tenable mortar firing position and immediately provide indirect fire support that allowed two rifle platoons to seize two trenches defended by a simulated dismounted squad supported by three machineguns and two armored personnel carriers. Although junior squad leaders were leading the mortar squads due to billet turnover, Sergeant Herbert's accurate fire direction control and command of the section directly allowed the machinegun squads to occupy their support by fire hot position and both platoons to maneuver to the obstacle breach site under complete suppression, unaffected by the enemy. During their support of Second Platoon's seizure of the objective, Sergeant Herbert commanded the section to an exceptional performance while simultaneously demonstrating and explaining the tactics, techniques, procedures, and capabilities of 60mm mortar sections to Australian 81mm mortarmen observers. Sergeant Herbert represented the company, battalion, and SPMAGTF at a level well above the expectations of his rank and grade, further strengthening the US-Australia partnership and having an outsized influence on shaping potential future military capabilities of our allies.
Mortar Squad Leader
PROFESSIONAL MILITARY ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS MORTAR SQUAD LEADER, WEAPONS PLATOON, KILO COMPANY, 3D BATALLION 4TH MARINES, 7TH MARINE REGIMENT FROM 18 TO 24 MAY 2022. LANCE CORPORAL HUSEMAN WAS VITAL TO KILO COMPANY'S SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF RANGES 410A AND 400 DURING THE ADVERSARY FORCE EXERCISE. ASSUMING THE ROLE OF MORTAR SQUAD LEADER, LANCE CORPORAL HUSEMAN CONTROLLED HIS GUN TEAM IN THE FIRING OF OVER 110 ROUNDS OF 60-MILLIMETER HIGH EXPLOSIVE AND 12 ROUNDS OF ILLUMNINATION IN SUPPORT OF KILO COMPANY'S SCHEME OF MANUEVER DURING BOTH DAY AND NIGHT ATTACKS. LANCE CORPORAL HUSEMAN ACHIEVED SUCCESFUL IMPACTS WITHIN 100 METERS OF HIS TARGETS, EARNING THE SECTION THE TACTICAL TRAINING EXERCISE CONTROL GROUP'S DEVIATION FOR INDIRECT FIRES, ALLOWING MANUEVER TO CLOSE UP TO 150 METERS FROM THEIR OBJECTIVES. LANCE CORPORAL HUSEMAN AGRESSIVELY AND SAFELY EXECUTED KILO'S QUICK FIRE PLAN DURING BOTH THE DAY AND NIGHT ATTACKS ON RANGE 400. LANCE CORPORAL HUSEMAN'S ATTENTION TO DETAIL, BIAS FOR ACTION, AND INITIATIVE REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
0341 Mortarman
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS MORTAR SECTION LEADER, WEAPONS PLATOON, COMPANY E, 2D BATTALION, 25TH MARINES, 4TH MARINE DIVISION FROM 8 JUNE 2017 TO 27 JUNE 2017. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT PATEL PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HE EXPERTLY LED THE EXECUTION OF THE 400 SERIES RANGES BY FAR SURPASSING EXPECTATIONS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE KNOWN PROFICIENCY LEVEL. SERGEANT PATEL PREPARED HIS SECTION FOR THE RIGOROUS DEMANDS OF INTEGRATED TRAINING EXERCISE 4-17 THROUGH A MYRIAD OF INCREASINGLY DEMANDING GUN DRILLS AND EXERCISES THAT LED TO IMPROVING HIS SECTION'S ACCURACY AND TIMELINESS OF FIRES. HIS METICULOUS EFFORTS IN PLANNING THE FIRE SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATED TRAINING EXERCISE 4-17 WERE INSTRUMENTAL TO THE COMPANY'S AND FIRE SUPPORT TEAM'S OVERALL SUCCESS ON THE RANGES. SERGEANT PATEL'S LEADERSHIP AND STEADFAST WORK ETHIC ENSURED MARINES OF THE COMPANY WERE READY FOR VARIOUS MISSIONS TASKED BY TACTICAL TRAINING EXERCISE CONTROL GROUP AND 2D BATTALION COMMAND. SERGEANT PATEL'S UNSURPASSED PROFESSIONALISM AND DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
Mortar Platoon Chief
PROESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS ADVANCE PARTY SAFETY CHIEF AND MORTAR PLATOON CHIEF DURING OPERATION BEARING DUEL IN FORT HUNTER LIGGET, CALIFORNIA FROM 12 APRIL 2005 TO 30 APRIL 2005. SERGEANT KLOIBER IMPLEMENTED A TARGETED SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM AND PERFORMED DETAILED SAFETY INSPECTIONS DURING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF A 500-MAN LOGISITICAL SUPPORT AREA (LSA FOX). HE COORDINATED SAFETY CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE COMPANIES AND WITH CAMP MAINTENANCE. HIS EFFORTS RESULTED IN ZERO LOST TIME MISHAPS AND DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF LSA OPERATIONS. AT THE FORWARD OPERATING BASE (FOB STONY), SERGEANT KLOIBER LED THE SETUP AND OPERATION OF THE FIRE DIRECTION CENTER AND COORDINATED THE LAYING OF THE GUNLINE. HE PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT OF MORTARS IN FINAL PROTECTIVE FIRES. HE SUPERVISED THE CONDUCT OF SIMULATED GUN REGISTRATION AND FIRE MISSIONS THROUGHOUT THE FIELD EXERCISE. HE PROVIDED TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ON THE CONDUCT OF FIRE TO THE FIRE SUPPORT COORDINATION BOARD WATCH STANDERS. SERGEANT KLOIBER'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, PERSEVERANCE, AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.