Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Grogan | An Oregon Soldier fires five-to-seven round bursts with a .50 caliber machine gun from...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. - Ben Mclaughlin is a carpenter from Salem, Ore., but this year he will be operating a .50 caliber machine gun from the turret seat. Mclaughlin is a Pfc. with Golf Company from the 141st Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the Oregon National Guard.
McGlaughlin is like many of the part time Soldiers from the 41st Brigade who are relying on high quality training to ensure they will be ready for full time Soldiering in Iraq.
During the live fire Humvee training course here, Soldiers go through the crawl, walk, run philosophy as they learn how to communicate and effectively engage targets.
On May 20, Golf Company went through the 7th part of a 12 part training excercise where they fired live rounds to simulate an actual engagement. Cpt. Alexander Herren of Bravo Company, 1st Infantry Battalion, 306 Regiment, said that on a good day the range can accommodate the firing of over 3000 rounds giving the Soldiers the type of training they need to be ready for combat. "The training gives the gunner a realistic feel of firing from an unstable platform while they are moving," said Cpt. Herren.
Golf Company 1st Sgt. Jared Morgan said "it's all about communication and the 3 D's: distance, direction, and description." The targets are all mounted and the gun crew must communicate where the target is, how far away it is, and what it is.
McGlaughlin said he was very happy with the training. "It was well instructed and we learned the importance of pre combat checks, pre combat inspections, and communication."
Sgt. 1st Class Terrance Busky, of Bravo Company, 1st Infantry Battalion, 306 Regiment, one of the trainers on the lane, said he could tell the Oregon Soldiers were motivated because he sometimes sees people who come out and just try to get through the lane. "These guys are actually here to do their job - to get it done," said Busky.
Being a gunner might not be the normal day job for Soldiers like Ben Mclaughlin, but these guard members will be well trained they go to Iraq thanks in part to the training they are doing here at Ft. Stewart.
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2009 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 35491 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 512 |
| Downloads: | 470 |
This work, Full time carpenter, part time gunner, by SSG Cory Grogan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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