Courtesy Photo | Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery stationed at Camp...... read more read more
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait—As the sun began its slow ascent across the cloud-spotted sky, soldiers were already loading rounds into magazines. The shooters arrived just as the sun broke through the clouds, casting rays of sunlight on their Kevlar-clad heads as they exited their vehicles. 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery qualified on the range, April 18-20.
“The main reason for taking the soldiers to the range is to maintain weapon familiarization,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Shaffer, assigned to 1/201st Field Artillery, West Virginia Army Guard.
Military training doesn’t stop once soldiers are deployed. If anything, training intensifies and focuses on those specific soldier skills required for mission success and personnel safety. “Soldiers need constant weapons training in order to maintain proficiency and correct recurring problems, such as weapon jams and double feeding,” said Shaffer.
Another reason for utilizing the range is to ensure soldiers have current qualification scores necessary for promotion. Army regulations require that each soldier qualify on the range at least once a year. Shaffer, from Philipi, W.Va., works in the operations cell and understands the importance of updating personnel records in preparation of re-deployment. Shaffer said that going to the range afforded soldiers the opportunity to attain higher qualification scores for their promotion packet.
Many soldiers enjoy the opportunity to go to the range and look forward to firing their weapons. Sgt. Steven Lindsey, a human resource sergeant from Pine Grove, W.Va., was excited to go to the range. “Because I’m a staff [non-commissioned officer], I don’t get out of the office much and I don’t get to use my weapon as much as the other soldiers in the battalion,” explained Lindsey.
“I took my time at the range and focused on using the basic marksmanship mechanics like maintaining my sight picture, controlling my breathing and relaxing my trigger squeeze,” said Lindsey.
The battalion allotted four consecutive days for the soldiers to utilize the Udairi range complex to train with their M4’s. Every soldier in the battalion was given the opportunity to qualify and reacquaint themselves with their weapons. Several senior noncommissioned officers worked closely with the younger privates to ensure they understood basic marksmanship techniques and maintained proper weapon safety.
As re-deployment approaches, the 201st has plans to continue weapons training to maintain the strict safety standards required while in theater.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.26.2011 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 69358 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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