Cavalry Soldiers Train at GTA

Photo By Staff Sgt. Coltin Heller | Pfc. Habel Santiago, an infantryman serving with Troop K, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, swaps the barrel of an M2A1 machine gun during weapons training Sept., 18, 2014. Santiago swapped the barrel after his the gunner fired numerous rounds to prevent heat damage to the weapon and to maintain weapon accuracy.  

GRAFENWOEHR TRAINING AREA, BW, GERMANY

09.19.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Coltin Heller 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

GRAFENWOEHR TRAINING AREA, GERMANY – American Soldiers assigned to Troop K, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment conducted weapons familiarization and qualification at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Sept. 18, 2014.

The training refreshed seasoned Soldiers, in addition to providing newer members of the unit the hands on weapon training.

“Today we’re familiarizing ourselves with the M2A1 and we’re going to be moving into qualifying this afternoon with the weapon system,” said Pfc. Habel Santiago, an infantryman serving with K Troop, 3rd Sqdn, 2nd Cav. Regt.

The M2A1 serves as an upgrade to the M2, adopted by the U.S. Army during World War II. Created by John Browning, the M2 is a belt feed machine gun, firing a .50-caliber bullet, and capable of two firing mode, semi-automatic and automatic.

The weapon is also lighter and, to the joy of many Soldiers and service members serving in the field, the weapon no longer needs to be headspaced and timed when changing barrels. Headspace, the space between the barrel and breach, had to manually adjusted on older models as well as trigger timing, ensuring the weapon functions properly.

“They’re pretty similar. It fires a lot faster,” said Santiago referring to the M2A1. It’s a lot more efficient. You don’t have to headspace and time each barrel. You just put it in, lock it into place and fire it.”

“As an infantry Soldier we should be familiarized with all the weapons we have and qualification is ensure every Soldier is at what he is supposed to be doing,” said Spc. Dusting Campbell, also an infantryman serving with Troop K.

Each Soldier teamed up with another Soldier, who acted as their assistant gunner loading rounds and spotting fired round placement, before switching roles. The teams each acquired their targets, honed in on them and then firing for effect despite the Soldiers being vehicle gunners firing grounded weapons.

“This training is important because its part of our job as an infantryman. All the people out here are the vehicle gunners and vehicle crews and if you’re part of the crew you need to know your weapon system,” said Santiago who hails from Brooklyn, N.Y.

Firing from a grounded weapon system and from a vehicle mounted one varies in one major aspect, the act of firing the weapon.

“On the ground we use the tripod mount and acquire targets using the [traverse and elevation]. In the vehicles we have the RWS, the remote weapons system which is used from inside of the infantry carrying vehicle,” said Campbell, who calls Pleasant Plain, Ohio home. “When they qualify with vehicle they’d be inside the vehicle using the joystick to control and fire the weapon and also control the camera.”

When firing from the ground, Soldiers have to use the iron-sights built into the weapon to acquire and engage targets. When firing from the vehicle Soldiers have technology at their disposal in the form of camera capable acquiring targets even in darkness.

“The camera has a zoom system and an infrared system so you can range and see target distances and at nighttime,” said Campbell.

After concluding training Troop K Soldiers will continue training keeping their skills sharp in addition to preparing for Warrior Week where each squad will compete with each other while building morale and unit cohesion.

• Date Taken: 09.19.2014
• Date Posted: 09.19.2014 05:48
• Story ID: 142668
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR TRAINING AREA, BW, DE