Cavalry Hit Their Mark on the Range In Iraq

Photo By Staff Sgt. Russell Klika | Sgt.1st Class Rich Shopp of the 2nd Squadron,9th Cav Regiment,3rd Brigade Combat Team listens to safety brief prior to firing his weapons.  

05.30.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Russell Klika 

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

AD DAWR, Iraq (May 30, 2006)-Running a Bradley fighting vehicle range is no small featâ?¦pulling-off a triple-range in the middle of a combat zone is truly an amazing act.

Soldiers of the 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo. attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, recently had the chance to re-zero their weapons on a range designed by Master Gunner Sgt. 1st Class Scott Green, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Personal Security Detail and Force Protection on Forward Operating Base Wilson, near Ad Dawr, Iraq.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lou Lartigue's intent was to create a "no-nonsense" range and to get the Soldiers out to the site, in as short a time as possible, get their weapons zeroed, and back out on missions again," said Greene. "We accomplished this by incorporating three ranges into one and by cycling through one troop a day for four days," he added.

The weapons fired included the M-4 rifle and the M-2 Bradley fighting vehicle. Each morning of the exercise started with Green and his teams sweeping the area to ensure the range was clear of any local nationals. Then a ground reconnaissance team followed, to ensure that there were no direct-fire incidents. With only one access road to the range, Green had to ensure that it was clear of any Improvised Explosive Devices before the Soldiers entered the training area.

With the sun just up over the horizon, the day's shooters arrive. The Bradleys and Humvees kick up plumes of dust that settles over everything. As some line up neatly to zero their weapons, others create a security circle around the range's perimeter.

"The challenging thing about a range like this is that while some of the soldiers are completing their training, others are performing a real-world security mission," says Green.

Once the vehicles are in place, the Soldiers are given instructions. The exercise included a small-arms fire, Bradley fire and a maneuver range. After the line of Bradleys took turns hitting their mark and their weapons were zeroed, each crew then moved onto the maneuvering range, with offensive and defensive positions. Meanwhile, Humvee gunners zeroed their M-240B and .50 caliber machine-guns.

"Normally a course like this would take 2 weeks," said Greene, "but we have other missions to accomplish."

"After laying down roughly 50,000 rounds of ammunition, the Soldiers of the 2-9 can feel confident that when they engage the enemy they will shoot straight and be able to hit what they are aiming at," said Greene. "Everything went textbook style."

• Date Taken: 05.30.2006
• Date Posted: 05.30.2006 13:44
• Story ID: 6571