Task Force Dragon troops are at home on the rifle range

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Crisp | Staff Sgt. Kevin K. Gatten, intelligence non-commissioned officer-in-charge, fire support cell, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, and Battle Creek, Mich., native, helps make adjustments to the shot group of Sgt. Tracey H. Faison, an automated supply specialist with Headquarters Support Company, Task Force Dragon, who hails from Goldsboro, N.C., during the zeroing portion of weapons qualification Dec. 30 at the Arizola Range on Camp Slayer in Baghdad. Roughly a dozen Soldiers were able to qualify on their assigned weapons, something that is extremely important when deployed, said Sgt. Richard J. Thorpe, who hails from Montgomery, Ala. Thorpe, the operations chief for Company A, TF Dragon, said that Soldiers "need to be ready to fire at any time" if called out on a mission, and conducting monthly ranges such as this one makes sure they are qualified and ready to do so.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.31.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Crisp 

Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs

By Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp
Multi-National Corps – Iraq

CAMP SLAYER, Iraq – Lead flew down-range Dec. 30 for the Soldiers of Task Force Dragon, as the Arizola Range on Camp Slayer played host to a dozen Soldiers qualifying on their assigned weapons.

"Weapons qualification is basic Soldiering," said 1st Sgt. Demont Roberson, a Saginaw, Mich., native and first sergeant for Company A, TF Dragon. Roberson oversaw the range which his company hosted, and he said it is even more important to stay current on weapon qualifications downrange.

"At any time, a Soldier can be out on patrol over here or on a guard mount," he said, "and if they can't zero their weapon, we will have serious problems."

Soldiers at the range qualified on their M16 and M4 rifles using paper targets from 25 meters. Some qualified better than others, and at least one Soldier didn't qualify the way he wanted.

"I normally shoot for a 38 to 40 [out of 40]," said Spc. Brandon L. Schumacker, joint operations center security non-commissioned officer-in-charge, Multi-National Corps – Iraq operations cell (C3). "I just wasn't there today."

Schumacker, a Garden Grove, Calif., native, did qualify on the first go-round, but asked that his less-than-stellar score not be released.

This range was one of the last before Co. A and TF Dragon redeploy in early spring. The company has conducted monthly M16/M4 and M9 ranges since deploying in January.

• Date Taken: 12.31.2008
• Date Posted: 12.31.2008 03:28
• Story ID: 28306
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ