CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea -- One of the training qualifications that field artillery Soldiers can achieve is to become a joint fire observer, or JFO, which aims at qualifying field artillery Soldiers to coordinate and integrate multiple assets from not only Army itself, but other branches of military like Air Force and Navy.

On Camp Casey, Soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, along with other Soldiers from the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, graduated from the installation's JFO course and attended a graduation ceremony held at the Camp Casey Multipurpose Complex Nov. 3.

"I feel like it's a great honor to graduate from the course," said Pfc. Aulbre Sphaler, a JFO graduate originally assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st ABCT, but now temporarily attached to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st ABCT. "The course was pretty hard, but if you paid attention to the course and do what you are told to do, you would be able to pass."

During the two-week course for JFO, the candidates went through two simulated airdrop executions, four simulated surface-to-surface executions and a written exam. Even if the candidates have been qualified, they still have to train semiannually in order to maintain current in their JFO qualifications.

Although the majority of the course consists of in-classroom materials and simulations, not every candidate passed it.

"The JFO program is rigorous because it takes a lot of your knowledge and attention to details," said Sgt. 1st Class David Martin, the 1st ABCT's fires operations noncommissioned officer who facilitated the JFO training program for the Devil Soldiers. "The program is so rigorous that in every class, it is statistically proven that at least 4 people fail out of it."

During this year's JFO course, a total of 24 candidates started the course, but only 18 could successfully finish the course.

"The hardest part was overcoming my own failures and mess-ups," said Pfc. Xavier Acosta, a fire support specialist from 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT, who also finished the course. "In order to pass, I had to be really careful not to make small mistakes because even tiny mistakes could cost lives and money."

For Acosta, the hard work of the vigorous course will now pay off in a big way for the future of his career.

"Not only can I call in for mortars and artillery, but I can now call in for air strikes and get air support and even naval gun fires if really needed," Acosta said.

The mission of the 1st ABCT while in South Korea is to support the U.S. security commitment to the nation while deterring external aggression and defending the Korean Peninsula and the newly qualified Soldiers will now serve an important role in protecting the Korean peninsula, maintaining the 'fight tonight' readiness.