What the Course Entails and Exam Details

The evaluation encompasses the entire spectrum of indirect fire operations, from mechanical maintenance to strategic deployment. The core of the assessment focuses on the M252/M252A1 81mm medium mortar system. Students must demonstrate complete mastery over the weapon’s characteristics, nomenclature, capabilities, limitations, and stringent safety regulations. A significant portion of the course and exam is dedicated to Fire Direction Procedures. This includes both analog computations utilizing the M16 Plotting Board and digital operations using modern ballistic computers like the Lightweight Handheld Mortar Ballistic Computer (LHMBC) and the Mortar Fire Control System (MFCS). Soldiers are tested on Observed Fire (OF) procedures, calling for and adjusting fires, and solving complex tactical employment problems. You must prove you can emplace, aim, compute, fire, adjust, and displace the mortar element faster and more accurately than the enemy, often under extreme pressure.

What to Expect in the Final Exam

You should expect a rigorous, two-phased evaluation process structured to test both theoretical knowledge and practical application. The first phase is a comprehensive written examination consisting of multiple-choice and complex short-answer calculation questions. This written portion focuses heavily on nomenclature, ammunition identification, range tables, safety data, and the intricate mathematical formulas required for Fire Direction Center calculations. The passing score for the written component is typically very high (often 80% or better), and failure on critical safety-related questions is unacceptable. The second phase is the crucial Practical Gunner's Examination and Field Evaluation. You will be graded on your speed and precision while emplacing the 81mm mortar system, performing reciprocal lay, responding to fire missions, and diagnosing/correcting malfunctions. Furthermore, the evaluation will include a live-fire or simulated tactical scenario where you must act as the leader of the mortar element, planning and executing fires based on a rapidly changing combat situation. Perfect execution of all mechanical drills and safety checks is required during the practical phase.

How to Study and Exam Centers

Preparation for this rigorous examination must be multi-faceted and relentless. First and foremost, you must dedicate yourself to studying the primary doctrinal publications. Master Training Circular TC 3-22.90 (Mortars) until you know it backward. Use current training materials from the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE). Create detailed flashcards for all system nomenclature, weight specifications, minimum and maximum ranges for different ammunition types, and, most importantly, the exact procedures for every mechanical drill. Practice solving analog Fire Direction problems on the M16 Plotting Board repeatedly until the process is automatic; speed and accuracy only come from high-repetition practice. If access is available, get hands-on time with the M252 system every single day to maximize your speed and physical memory for the practical gunner's exam. Regarding the test itself, this is an internal US Army evaluation. It is strictly administered within specific military training centers, most notably the Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, or the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore (formerly Benning), Georgia. Authorized unit-level master gunners or senior instructors may also administer qualification tests under rigorous oversight, but there are no external, commercial testing centers for this military skill.

Job Opportunities from the Course

Mastery of 18B Mortar Employment and the 81mm system unlocks specific, critical career paths and roles that demand the highest level of indirect fire expertise. Below is a list of job titles and responsibilities directly enabled by this level of proficiency.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B): Leading a mortar element or supervising indirect fires for a 12-man Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant (18F): Utilizing advanced fire support knowledge to integrate mortars into strategic planning and targeting during operational deployments.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Special Forces Operations Sergeant (18Z): Planning company or battalion-level Special Operations involving organic indirect fire support assets.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Infantry Mortar Platoon Sergeant (MOS 11C): Supervising multiple 81mm or 120mm mortar sections within a standard Infantry Company or Battalion.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Mortar Master Gunner (MCoE/SWCS): Acting as the primary subject matter expert and instructor at major military training institutions, developing new mortar doctrine and testing future systems.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Mortar Instructor: Training the next generation of 11C and 18B Soldiers at institutional schools like SWCS or Fort Moore.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) or Joint Fire Support Specialist (13F): Personnel in these fire support roles benefit immensely from 18B-level mortar knowledge when coordinating artillery and aviation fires in conjunction with organic organic mortars.