Message from soldier in the video

" When you shoot a mortar from a new location for the first time you want to put weight on the opposite end. This helps the baseplate settle. We didn't dig the baseplate in all the way to save time. I stand on the baseplate and my assistant gunner fire's the first round from that location. Of course, I fall off and eat sand. But, I still manange to get the gun back up because I'm so awesome. "