Photo By Sgt. Chris Garcia | Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion fire an M2HB .50-caliber machine gun in a...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion participated in a live fire training event during a Heavy Brigade Combat Team qualification course aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 8–20.
About 47 AAB Marines underwent a three week course, which improved the Marines’ ability to identify the capabilities and limitations of enemy vehicles, and understand how to assemble, disassemble, install and operate the weapon systems that are attached to the Assault Amphibious Vehicle-P7.
The AAV P7 is a fully-tracked amphibious landing vehicle used to transport troops from the water to land during amphibious operations. It is armed with a Mark-19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and an M2HB .50-caliber machine gun. The vehicle is able to hold up to 24 combat loaded Marines.
For the first two weeks of training the students went through classes, which taught them how to detect an enemy vehicle, when to engage them and turret trainer qualifications for the crew men. The students have to qualify through 12 hours of simulation.
“It’s some of the best training that they’ll go through,” said Sergeant Jonathan Swaffer, an amphibious assault vehicle crew man and assistant master gunner. “I’ve been in for eight years, and it’s been some of the best that I have ever seen. The simulator is very up-to-date and very realistic looking.”
After the crews become qualified they go to the range to participate in the live-fire gunnery tables where they learned to fire at moving and multiple targets.
“The course helps to align the [Marines] as a whole,” said 1st Lieutenant Jeffery Horwitz, an assault amphibious vehicle officer and AAV platoon commander. “So when we go to combat, everybody can fight and communicate together.”
After watching their Marines perform and improve their ability to operate the weapon systems the Instructors are confident that they will be able to perform when needed to. Swaffer said that he is fully confident in his Marines and believes that they are qualified and ready for combat.
“We are the amphibious roots of the Marine Corps,” said Horwitz, “Regardless of what the mission is, tracks are going to be used and they are going to be around for a long time. This training is not only essential to the [Marine Corps] to help build our combat effectiveness but it’s vital to the success of the Marine Corps.”
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2015 16:22 |
| Story ID: | 167986 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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