CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. – Cadets from the University of Arkansas and other local Army ROTC programs participated in a sniper familiarization workshop hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center.
The event was coordinated with the University of Arkansas and the recruiting command to support the Arkansas adjutant general’s initiative to recruit quality officers into the National Guard.
“Through training opportunities like our sniper course, we understand the platform we offer allows ROTC cadets a chance to come out and work with noncommissioned officers in training to further enhance their exposure to the NCO corps they will eventually command,” said Lt. Col. Victor Marcelle, the Administrative Officer for the training center.
Although the event started as an opportunity to invite future officers out to demonstrate some of the unique aspects the National Guard has to offer, compared to the active and reserve components, the training proved to be a lesson in leadership. Cadets learned how to employ sniper teams to complete the mission and got to apply long-range marksmanship techniques on a live fire range.
Sgt. 1st Class Jon Plummer and Staff Sgt. Aaron Pierce began the day with instruction on the M110, M2010, and M107 sniper weapon systems. In-depth familiarization covered the fundamentals of marksmanship and how to account for various elements, such as wind and mirage, to shoot accurately at distances up to 1,200 meters.
The cadets then learned how to employ and maximize the skill set of a sniper team. They focused on not only the marksmanship capabilities of a sniper team, but their use to gather intelligence.
“The instruction is very informative. It’s not necessarily over our heads, but to an extent, it is,” said Cadet Col. Stewart Tice, a fourth year Military Science student and native of Conway, Ark. “He actually talked about everything about the weapon, which was very informative.” He emphasized the in-depth instruction was a better learning tool than generic weapons instruction.
After instruction in the weapon systems, the cadets got the opportunity to practice their new skills on the range. All of the cadets got to lay down behind the M110 sniper rifle. Plummer assisted each cadet to get their bearings on the range and assisted with scope manipulation to ensure the cadets were seeing their targets.
A second cadet sat behind the shooter observing rounds fired through a spotting scope. The scopes allowed the cadets to see the “trace” from the bullet as it travels through the air and assist the shooter correct their aim. Cadets laid side-by-side with actual sniper students on the range.
This kind of training offers the cadets an experience that they won’t receive in the classroom. “Anytime we can incorporate realistic training like this, with the (National) Guard and our future officers, it benefits everyone,” said Maj. Lorne Kelley, assistant professor of Military Science at the University of Arkansas.
“The NGMTC offered a unique training opportunity for their cadets to get exposed to ‘go-to-war’ training and additional exposure to the National Guard,” said Marcelle.
The combination of instruction, hands-on training and how to properly utilize the skill set of a sniper team enables these future leaders to be innovative and dynamic leaders capable of excelling in complex and dangerous environments.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2014 10:46 |
| Story ID: | 121108 |
| Location: | LITTLE ROCK, AR, US |
| Hometown: | CONWAY, AR, US |
| Hometown: | FAYETTEVILLE, AR, US |
| Hometown: | FORT SMITH, AR, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Guard Marksmanship Center helps to recruit new leaders, by 1LT Denise Douglas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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