Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | BULBOACA TRAINING AREA, MOLDOVA – North Carolina National Guard Army Staff Sgt....... read more read more
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BULBOACA TRAINING AREA, MOLDOVA – North Carolina National Guard Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery (113th FAR) and 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry (120th INF) joined their Moldovan peers for live fire training at Exercise Fire Shield at Bulboaca Training Area Moldova, Sept. 20, 2016, as part of Multinational Exercise Fire Shield 2016 hosted by the Republic of Moldova Sept. 9-25.
The Soldiers fired Moldovan issue artillery and assault rifles. While it is fun training for the NCNG Soldiers, it has a very practical mission for the Moldovan instructors earning valuable practice instructing other nation’s Soldiers on their weapons systems and tactics.
“It was pretty cool, not everyone gets an opportunity to fire something like this,” Army Staff Sgt. K. Lee, a gunnery sergeant with, B Battery, 113th FAR.
In the early morning, Moldovan special forces started with the basics of marksmanship on their issued weapon the AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle. The Moldovan instructors demonstrated body positioning, breath and trigger control and aiming the rifle.
There was a constant crack of rifle fire as the NCNG Soldiers fire at targets 25 meters away. After ceasefire, the shooters, with a Moldovan coach, walk quickly to the targets. The coaches circle the shots on the target and explain how to adjust the weapon’s sights.
Each time the circle of shots gets tighter and moved closer to the bull’s-eye. Soon the Soldiers are ready to engage a series of targets on the main range at 100, 200, and 280 meters using prone, kneeling and standing stances.
“It was an interesting experience and I will never forget. I enjoy firing a lot of different type of guns, my friends back home are going to get a kick out of this when I tell them,” Spc. Ty Bradley, a medic with headquarters, 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment.
Training transitioned from a 7.62 mm AK rifle bullet at 280 meters to 122 mm cannon shell fired 6,000 meters as NCNG crews got a chance to load and fire Moldovan artillery.
The gun line of four M1938 howitzers was deployed on a harvested farm field. Gun chiefs rehearse firing drills over and over. Several NCNG soldiers observe and ask questions. After the all clear to fire, the Moldovan crews teach the NCNG Soldiers on their responsibility as part of the team.
On order the mixed crews, Moldovan and NCNG, rush to the nearly 20-foot long gun. With the type of round verified, a NCNG Soldier runs to the gun carrying the more than a foot-long shell. The Soldier first heaves the round into the breech at the rear of the cannon then the brass casing with the explosive charge. The breech was closed and the crew retreated to a safe distance. With a pull of the lanyard, the powder was ignited and the round flew downrange.
“I can’t explain the camaraderie of artillery we share but in a certain way we are part of the same team,” said Lee.
Exercise “Fire Shield 2016” is one of several training opportunities for U.S. forces to develop relationships and capabilities with partners throughout Europe.
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2016 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 210422 |
| Location: | BULBOACA, MD |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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