Photo By Sgt. Edwin Rodriguez | Pfc. John Farr (right) takes aim at his last target during a stress fire exercise on...... read more read more
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Many soldiers have experienced the competitive nature athletics provides. This nature began from coaches who attempted to bring discipline, game drills, game planning, and competitive fire all into one; nurtured in the practice arena and then implementing it in the real game. However can that same format be useful on the battlefield?
Nearly 30 members of the Task Force Resolute primary security detail conducted a three-day weapon familiarization exercise in Afghanistan June 15 through 17, bringing a competitive aspect to their training.
To keep the team in shape and their minds battle ready, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Griffin and 1st Lt. Andrew Hosey, the TF-Resolute PSD non-commissioned officer and officer in charge, respectively, engaged the soldiers with a friendly competition intertwined with range training. The PSD normally attends the Kandahar Airfield Fire Familiarization Range once a week, if their mission allows. However, this is the first time team leaders added a winning incentive while making training more stressful in a safe environment.
“My hope is that we can build team cohesion, while at the same time train soldiers to keep their minds on battle scenarios,” said Hosey. “This will be as close to a real combat scenario as we can get in training.”
The range training started with a convoy live fire exercise on the first day. Each truck team competed against one another to see who was most accurate from the gunner position of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The teams fired each weapon system themselves, discarding the use of the widely used common remotely operated weapons system. They fired both M-2, .50-caliber and 249B machine gun systems.
“Since being on the team, I learned about the CROW system and our vehicles,” said Spc. Randy Curtis, a new member of the PSD team, from the 548th Transportation Company, 298th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. “This was a more creative way to train. I think it will prepare us for real combat.”
On the second day, the team zeroed their personal weapons on KAF, then moved just outside the wire to Tarnack Range. The day’s event placed a higher element of stress on each individual firer, forcing them to remain accurate while being distracted by observer controllers, doing physical exercises and running between the MRAPs before firing at point targets. The fastest and most accurate soldier wins.
“It breaks up the monotony. We do battle drills each week which is good, but I believe this makes it more difficult and true-to-life,” said Griffin, a Cape Girardeau, Mo. native.
The third and final day was weapons qualification. Each “Predator” soldier fired their personal weapon from the prone supported, prone unsupported and kneeling positions for the best qualification possible. At the end of the day, the highest score won.
Day one the truck team comprised of Staff Sgt. Douglas Ferguson, Staff Sgt. Don Morales, Sgt. Frank Keffales, Sgt. Bryan Thomas, Spc. Wyatt Gross and Pfc. Alonzo Dargan had the highest score during the convoy live fire exercise. On day two, Morales won the stress fire competition, while Staff Sgt. Jerry Slawson had the fastest time. On the final day, 1st Lt. Andrew Hosey had the highest marksmanship score, shooting 10 rounds at two targets with different distances. The overall winner of the three-day training event was Ferguson’s squad.
“It was great to be recognized as top squad in the competition. We work our tails off and it showed,” said Ferguson. “Our highest priority was training, and we accomplished that.”
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2011 02:43 |
| Story ID: | 72240 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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