Photo By Staff Sgt. Johnathan Hoover | CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Soldiers assigned to Delta Battery, 1st Battalion, 62nd Air...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Vincent Kaple
D/1-62 ADA Tactical Control Officer
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Soldiers of Delta Battery, 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Task Force Spartan, are hard at work effectively maintaining their weapon proficiency.
For an air defender, this qualification exceeds the normal level of basic soldiering. While deployed to Kuwait, the Fort Hood, Texas-based unit illustrated their true combat capabilities by demonstrating both their individual weapon qualification on the M4 carbine rifle and by conducting tactical reloads on a Patriot launching station.
The skill of qualifying on an individually assigned weapon system is essential for deployed units to maintain an expeditionary, ready-for-anything mentality. Additionally, leaders among the battery utilize these ranges as junior leader development events. Prior to each range, soldiers conduct pre-marksmanship instruction and small-group classes on the proper operation of each weapon system. Squad leaders train their soldiers with platoon sergeants supervising the training.
These small unit development sessions provide soldiers with proper handling and marksmanship fundamentals for safe range operation while developing junior leaders. Some soldiers look beyond the tactical requirements and view the range qualification as an exciting break from regularly scheduled deployment activities.
“The range was a nice change of pace,” said Sgt. Eli Pederson from Lions, Colorado.
As a tactical control assistant, Pederson focuses primarily on his specific role within the Air and Missile Defense (AMD) mission.
“The range was a time to do something out of my usual schedule,” said Pederson.
At the conclusion of the range, 57 Delta Battery soldiers successfully qualified on their assigned weapons.
As air defenders, these soldiers must not only be able to operate their individual weapon, but also a multi-million dollar air missile defense (AMD) launching station. This critical task is even more difficult when a real world chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threat is possible, a situation that causes these soldiers to train in Mission-Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear.
“The MOPP gear training is challenging, but it is a good skill to have,” said Spc. Devon Villalona, a launching station operator assigned to Delta Battery.
These events highlight Delta Battery’s mission readiness, and focuses on soldier and leader development.
“Our soldiers train everyday so they’ll be ready when it is no longer training,” said Capt. Kelly Weaver, Delta Battery’s commander.
Whether it is an individual weapon, or a multi-million dollar Patriot launching station being reloaded with a possible CBRN threat; Delta Battery soldiers stand ready to protect and defend the skies from enemy threats.
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.20.2018 04:38 |
| Story ID: | 273796 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 241 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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