Gun Team Five is not without solid leadership to command the howitzer in the trenches. Their non-commissioned officers bark out the commands during fire missions and the Marines perform their duties with precision.

As a team, they operate as one. Individually, they are unique in their past and future. 

The Chief

Gun Team Five’s section chief, Sgt. Felipe D. Bachicha, always puts his Marines before himself. He ensures they all have chow and somewhere to sleep. He sets the example of how to behave and leads Marines by ensuring the crew knows how to do every job required on the M777A2 howitzer. He is also the last line of safety before rounds are sent downrange.

Bachicha is from Roswell, New Mexico. He grew up in the small town and attended Roswell High School. After graduating, he joined the Marine Corps and has been active-duty for seven and a half years. Bachicha has two brothers; both of them are Marines and one is currently serving drill instructor duty. 

Bachicha was formerly attached to Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment and deployed to Iraq three times. He was there during the Battle of Fallujah in 2004 and was also trained in force protection of the various camps when not conducting artillery missions.

Bachicha takes his experience from his multiple deployments to Iraq and has used it to mentor and train the Marines on his gun team.

“I had a lot of fun during my tours in Iraq,” said Bachicha. “I did a lot of stuff other then artillery while I was there. It really broadened my knowledge base a lot.”

Bachicha said he plans to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves and pursue a degree at a college in New Mexico.

Corporal of the gun

Cpl. Daniel R. Baker is the assistant chief for Gun Team Five. He ensures everything is put into place during fire missions. Baker’s main job on the gun line during fire missions is to record data about the fire missions.

During his high school years, Baker was the captain of both the varsity football and baseball teams.  He made the decision to join the Marine Corps after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“I had been thinking about joining the Marines already. Once I saw that, there was never any doubt in my mind of what I was going to do,” said Baker.

Baker’s time in the Corps has led him on many training exercises and a stint during Operation Iraqi Freedom. However, when his military contract is up in five months, he plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice, and spend time with his wife and six-month old daughter.

The Junior Marine

Lance Cpl. Isaias Calderas grew up in Decutar, Ala., a small town located near Huntsville.

He attended Austin High School where he played soccer and tennis.

He joined the Marine Corps after high school to prove to himself and others that he could meet the challenge. He says he will never forget stepping onto the yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island, S.C., and becoming a Marine. When he began training with artillery, he thought it was the coolest thing that he had ever done in his life.

“I have been with two other gun teams and this gun team is the best,” said Calderas. “This team is great because it has a mixture of people and personalities. Everyone here brings something to the table. I feel like I can trust this team with anything. The guys on this gun get the job done and we make it look good. We play around, joke around, but when it’s time to work, we work, and we get it done right.”

He went on to say the leadership is the best he has ever seen as well.

“Sgt. Bachicha is good, if you want to know something about the weapon systems, the Marine Corps, or anything else, he will take the time to show or tell you.”