Dust and smoke billow as a M109A6 Paladin direct fire during the Network Integration Evaluation at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Oct. 24. Throughout the evaluation soldiers from 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, practiced direct firing techniques at targets 600 meters away. In battle, this technique would be used for close encounters with enemy elements.