Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger | Col. Butch Kievenaar, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. – Eleven weeks of hard work and sacrifice paid off for 11 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, as they received their diplomas and graduated from the Bradley Master Gunner Course in a ceremony held on May 28.
"The purpose of the Master Gunner course is to train (non-commissioned officers) to assist their commanders in the planning and implementation of gunnery training and maintenance programs. These guys will act as subject matter experts on the turrets, fire and control systems and range operations," said Staff Sgt. Travis Larson, an instructor/writer with the course.
The course was 11-weeks long, starting back in January and is normally held at Fort Benning, Ga. The instructors came to Fort Carson at the brigade's request to help get the maximum number of Warhorse Soldiers through the course. The course contained maintenance training, gunnery training, a week-long gunnery exercise and a written exam, said Staff Sgt. Michael Bernard, the course distinguished honor graduate from A company, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment.
Each graduate received a diploma and the 'J3' skill identifier, signifying that the Soldier is a master gunner. The course was extremely difficult, with only 38 percent of the original class graduating, Larson said.
The ceremony's guest speaker was Sgt. Maj. Dale L. Veneklasen, operations sergeant major from 2-8 CAB. During the ceremony he challenged the graduates to become proficient at their new tasks.
"Nowhere in your regulation does it say sergeant or sergeant first class," he said. "All it says is 'Master Gunner.' That's what we expect you to become."
After the presentation of the awards and diplomas, Col. Butch Kievenaar, commander of 2BCT, 4ID, offered his congratulations and thanked the Families in attendance for the sacrifices they had made for their graduates.
"In the past weeks, we have asked a lot from you and your Soldiers and I thank you for your continued support," he said.
Upon completion of the course, the graduates' new skills will be put to the test soon, as they begin a brigade gunnery exercise Sunday. The graduates however, feel they are more than capable for the task ahead.
"Being a master gunner, you do maintenance that other gunners and mechanics can't do. The skills we can bring to the brigade will help when it comes to services and doing what the brigade needs us to do to get ready to deploy and once we deploy as well," said Sgt. 1st Class Alan Rawleigh, brigade master gunner.
Bernard echoed Rawleigh's words and also had advice for younger Soldiers who want to take the course.
"I wish that everybody who works in a mechanized unit could take this course," he said. "I would definitely recommend it. It's a great challenge, a great career move and the positions are challenging. It's something you got to want to do."
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2008 19:29 |
| Story ID: | 19964 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 277 |
| Downloads: | 187 |
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