Photo By Spc. Erica Isaacson | U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 307 Troopers practice deploying various...... read more read more
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By Erica Isaacson
Joint Task Force Guantanamo
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - It was an all to common hot and humid morning as members of U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 307 boarded their Viper patrol boats and ventured out of Guantanamo Bay and into the Caribbean Sea for weapons training.
Employed in the training were Browning M-2 .50 Caliber machine guns, M-240 machine guns and an assortment of signaling devices.
By morning's end, the Vipers' assorted arsenal of weapons was given a full work out in order to give PSU 307 a little seaborne target practice.
To the PSU, the live-fire exercise held here on Aug. 21, 2008, was a chance for them to hone their marksmanship skills and rehearse basic survival skills.
"Everyone in the unit is already qualified on their weapons," said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Joseph Tew, a boatswain's mate with the PSU, who helped with exercise organization. "The exercise was a maintenance qualification range to keep up the skills of unit members."
After leaving the bay, PSU 307 Troopers started off the exercise by deploying smoke and flare signaling devices. One at a time, Viper boats traveled a safe distance from the others and each crew member took a turn practicing how they would signal for help in case of an emergency.
"The practice with the signals was familiarization," said Tew. "With practice their use becomes second nature."
The exercise then shifted into high gear as the crews prepared to fire live rounds down range.
After having already spent hours out on the water with the unrelenting sun beating down on them, the PSU 307 Troopers once again donned their Kevlar helmets and other protective gear as they prepared to fire while underway.
A floating target was placed on the open water by the command boat as crew members on the remaining Vipers anchored themselves to their weapons by attaching straps to harnesses they were wearing.
Then, one by one, the coxswain of each Viper approached the target at high speeds.
The target was first engaged by the gunner operating the .50 caliber machine gun mounted in the boat's bow. The coxswain would then turn the Viper to allow the M-240 gunner stationed on the boat's starboard side to engage the target simultaneously.
"Turning the Viper to the side while engaging the target creates interlocking fields of fire," explained Tew. "It is a much more effective way to engage a target."
Aboard each Viper were mixes of both veteran and relatively fresh Troopers. More experienced Troopers showed others how to "walk in the rounds" as they engaged targets. By coming together and performing training exercises, seasoned Troopers are able to share their experience with the rest of the unit. It is just one way PSU 307 maintains the highest level of mission readiness.
When PSU 307 finally completed the live-fire exercise and pulled their Vipers in to dock, the Troopers were sweat soaked and exhausted. But, their day had only just begun.
Not only were their weapons dirty from firing, but saltwater had penetrated every crevice of the Vipers and weapons and all needed to be cleaned to prevent rust from forming.
After a short break for lunch, a long afternoon of cleaning and maintenance work awaited the members of PSU 307.
| Date Taken: | 08.29.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2008 16:42 |
| Story ID: | 23212 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 99 |
This work, USCG GUNEX: Keeps Sailors weapon-ready, by SPC Erica Isaacson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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