Courtesy Photo | TEAM RCT-E pose on the combined-arms range, Feb 25, at Fort Benning, Ga.... read more read more
Capt. Antonia Greene
Shooting seems fundamental to Soldiering, but when Reservists, Airmen and Sailors find themselves taking on traditional regular Army missions, a rifle and a pistol are novel tools to the trade for some.
When training tri-services on Basic Rifle Marksmanship, trainers from 2nd Battalion, 312th Regiment, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade at Army Support Activity-Dix continue to revamp their arsenal.
Bringing back lessons learned for mobilization, four select Soldiers from 2-312th were chosen to represent First Army at the All Army Small Arms Championship shooting competition held, Feb 20 — 27, at the United States Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga.
The All Army event attendees, 1st Lt. Thomas Weaver, from Toms River, N.J., Sgt. 1st Class Casey Schwab from Tionesta, Pa., Staff Sgt. Ilker Uralgil, from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Staff Sgt. Mark Ussery from Toms River, N.J. stressed the importance of continuous and remedial training.
Traditionally, regular Army Soldiers hit the ranges much more often than its Reserve and Guard counterparts. Unless assigned to a flight crew or security forces mission, the Air Force typically requires its servicemembers to qualify only before a deployment outside the continental United States.
Emphasizing the four fundamentals — Particularly sight alignment and trigger control, is key to better BRM they all agreed. Controlling your breathing and maintaining a steady position are also important for precision when firing; however, the trainers said mastering your trigger pull and keeping your sights aligned properly gets troops the most bang for their buck.
Team 2-312th runs post-mobilization preliminary marksmanship Instruction for small arms and crew serve weapons systems to include the M2 50-caliber and MK19 machine guns, M249 and M240 squad automatic weapon, the M500/590 shotguns, M16A2/A4 and M4 rifles, M203 Grenade Launcher, and M9 pistol. The crew also provides instruction on a variety of optics and aiming devices, such as the Close Combat Optic. They are also responsible for ensuring each mobilizing servicemeber's assigned weapon is properly zeroed prior to Basic Rifle Marksmanship qualification.
Weaver, the PMI officer-in-charge, and Ussery, a small arms and crew serve weapons instructor, are members of the Operation Warrior Trainer Program. Both served with the 50 Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard in support of ongoing contingency operations in Iraq from 2008 to 2009. Upon their return state-side, they volunteered for another year of active service at ASA Dix, sharing lessons learned down range with mobilized servicemembers preparing for similar missions overseas. Schwab, the PMI team leader and 8-year regular Army military policeman, and Uralgil, a PMI instructor and member of the NYPD, are mobilized reservists with recent combat experience. Schwab, Ussery, and Uragil all have civilian careers in the law enforcement arena and recognize the importance of effective weapons training.
"Maintaining the shooter's skill set at the individual level is a critical warrior task," said Weaver.
Foregoing the four-hour PMI classroom block of instruction and heading right out to the zeroing range is a misjudgment the trainers see often with the mobilizing units.
"This is where the troops revisit the basics, such as muzzle awareness, weapons maintenance and the four fundamentals," explained Weaver.
"And emphasis on weapons safety; like making sure you maintain the 'low-ready' with your weapon, finger out of the trigger housing and weapon on safe when not engaging a target." added Ussery.
At the All Army, the four participated in both classroom train-the-trainer seminars and field-firing exercises. They competed in multiple individual and team rifle and pistol contests as well as the 500-meter assault run, combined-arms exercise and stress fire. Most importantly, each learned helpful PMI tactics techniques and procedures they plan to employ here at the mobilization station.
"Both the classroom time and field exercises were equally beneficial," explained Schwab.
"Video tutorials that teach proper technique and other useful modern warfare weapons-training materials and demonstrations were distributed," said Uralgil, showcasing his combined-arms match recorded on his I-phone.
Long-distance firing, timed events and urban-environment realism, all helped the trainers focus on the fundamentals as well as develop advanced training techniques to apply in combat.
"It's not just about getting them qualified and off the range, but their minds right," emphasized Schwab.
The 500 meter assaults, stress fire matches and the combined-arms train-the-trainer — where competitors have to transition from the long-rifle to the pistol, were the team's favorite exercises.
"Using the hasty-sling for shooting on the move assists with sight alignment and steady position to engage targets in less than ideal positions for operations in an urban environment," said Ussery.
The week-long competition not only provided the right tools for the job but helped to strengthen the team's bond. They shared their lessons learned from this year and how, next year, they plan to beat out the stiff competition.
The 2010 All Army was the largest event in the programs history. There were 287 registered competitors, with the field expanding to just over 300 during the Excellence in Competition matches. Team 2-312th TSBn placed respectable in individual matches and then right around the middle in team contests. Fellow Dixans, Team Regional Training Center-East, placed considerably well.
In Match 8, the Rifle Team Match, RTC-E shooters placed 2nd and in Match 35, the US Army Service Rifle Team Championship, they finished 3rd overall. Sgt. 1st Class Richard Clark, from Eaton, N.Y. won the High Drill Sergeant for the entire competition. He was awarded a Rock River Arms M4 rifle and his name will be engraved on the drill sergeant trophy maintained at the Army Marksmanship Unit Headquarters at Fort Benning, Ga.
| Date Taken: | 03.10.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2010 10:56 |
| Story ID: | 46449 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 433 |
| Downloads: | 317 |
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