Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Spc. John Noe of West Carrolton practices breathing techniques with his M16A2 rifle...... read more read more
CAMP SHERMAN READINESS CENTER, Ohio - In the Army, active duty soldiers have more opportunities to become familiar with their assigned weapons than their National Guard counterparts. Because of this, the need arose for the Ohio National Guard Master Weapons Team.
The Ohio National Guard’s Master Weapons Team is trained to assist and instruct units and soldiers in a variety of small arms weapons from the M16 rifle and M9 pistol, up to the M2 machine gun and MK19 grenade launcher.
The team helps to ensure that the soldiers are trained with the most current range safety techniques. They also ensure that soldiers stay familiar in basic weapons techniques.
Sgt. Robert Truitt from Chillicothe, an instructor with the Master Weapons Team, could describe what they do in one word, “Training.”
“The training that we do will allow soldiers to be better peer mentors in not only weapons training, but also make sure that their own weapon’s qualification ranges are safe and to the most current Army standard,” said Truitt.
Because there are over 10,000 members of the Ohio National Guard, the Master Weapons Team is not able to help out all the units all of the time. They travel around the state to train units as they are requested, or as the need arises.
“Because we are not able to be everywhere, it becomes important that the individual units and soldiers that we train become as proficient as they can in the amount of time that we are with them,” explained Truitt.
This past weekend, the Master Weapons Team is helping to train members of the 1194th Engineer Company in Chillicothe. The unit is composed of soldiers who are trained as carpenters, plumbers and electricians.
First Lt. Scott Ross, Commander of the 1194th Engineer Company said that he was happy to have the Master Weapons Team come in to help train his soldiers.
“The experts with the Master Weapons team are helping to ensure that our soldiers are being trained to standard,” said Ross. “They are also ensuring that, if any soldiers miss the training, that our unit level trainers will be able to train them as effectively as possible.”
After the training class, the soldiers of the 1194rh were immediately able to put the techniques that they learned to use in the Army’s Engagement Skills Trainer.
The EST is a computer-simulated firing range that allows Soldiers to practice weapons techniques without firing a bullet using specially modified weapons.
Spc. Eric Mackey of Mason said that is was a good refresher for him.
“I liked being able to immediately practice what I learned on the EST,” said Mackey. “It really helped me to remember more of what I was taught and it was a lot of fun.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2012 17:39 |
| Story ID: | 85309 |
| Location: | CAMP SHERMAN, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | CHILLICOTHE, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | MASON, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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