Photo By Sgt. Marcus Floyd | Soldiers with P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fire a Mk-19 automatic...... read more read more
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WEDRZYN, Poland - Throughout the U.S. Army, many Soldiers fire on ranges on any given day.
However, very few Soldiers can say they've fired from a speedboat.
“Going downrange on a speedboat down the lake was a lot of fun,” said 1st Lt. Joshua Gonzalez, a platoon leader with P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. “It gave myself and my Soldiers an opportunity to conduct a training exercise we never really get to conduct.”
Training with Polish soldiers from the 16th Airborne Battalion, Soldiers with P Troop shot at targets from a moving speedboat Aug. 27, 2015, in Wedrzyn, Poland.
Although shooting targets approximately 200 meters away is routine for most Soldiers, firing from a moving boat added a new level of difficulty to the task.
“It was different shooting on water,” said Pfc. Blaine Emory, a cavalry scout with P Troop. “It throws off your balance and aim, making it harder to be accurate.”
Despite the added difficulty, Emory said he sees the value in the training.
“It helps with muscle memory,” he said. “If you can hold a steady aim on water then you will be a better shot.”
In addition to improving a Soldier's muscle memory, the training helps by creating a scenario many Soldiers find unfamiliar.
“In a real-life situation, if we ever had this opportunity, having exposure to it will increase our effectiveness downrange,” said Gonzalez. “Not only was it fun and motivational, it just continues to build on our flexibility as a whole and improve our abilities as scouts.”
By adding a level of diversity to the Soldier's training repertoire, they ultimately become more resilient and better prepared to handle foreign situations.
“Different dynamic training events shape our character as a whole and increase our ability to be resilient soldiers,” said Gonzalez. “Even if we're in situations we haven't seen before, it may not be this exact one, but it increases our ability to adapt and react to different situations and environments quickly and, overall, become more efficient.”
The training is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing multinational partnership focused on combined training and security cooperation between NATO allies. Led by the mission command element of the 4th Infantry Division and in conjunction with European partner nations, Atlantic Resolve is intended to improve combined operational capability in a range of missions and ensure the continued peace and stability of Europe.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2015 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 174437 |
| Location: | WEDRZYN, PL |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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