JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq –Task Force 38 Soldiers insured readiness and capability by qualifying every few months with their individual weapons, even while deployed.

Indiana Army National Guard Capt. Kerry Kinney, Task Force 38 chemical officer, said Soldiers attended ranges at four different periods: pre-mobilization training in the U.S., Kuwait and twice at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. While the unit attended as one group during their training, they split up into different rotations throughout the deployment to accommodate missions and job schedules.

"We went in June 2009, August 2009, December 2009 - March 2010 and April 2010 – May 2010," said Kinney, Indianapolis, resident.

Kinney said aviation Soldiers fired different weapons ranging from M16 and M4 rifles to M9 pistols.

Whatever weapon they were firing, Soldiers welcomed the chance to practice firing at the range here. Indiana Army National Guard Warrant Officer 1 Kelsey Graves, Task Force 38 mobility officer, said weapons qualification times during the deployment were beneficial on multiple levels.

"Overall range time provides a break in the routine and a chance to get out of the office for day," said Graves, a Bloomfield, Ind., resident. "For many Soldiers it is an opportunity to increase in proficiency level and make them more marketable for rank advancement."

Along with providing breaks in the routine, Graves said frequent range time contributed to confidence and maintained capability of National Guard Soldiers who usually don't handle weapons on a day-to-day basis outside of deployment and training times.

"Range time, here in Iraq, is essential to honing and maintaining basic skill sets that provide Soldiers with weapons handling confidence, a 'train as you fight' environment and the opportunity to familiarize themselves with other weapon systems," said Graves.

Indiana Army National Guard Sgt. Jesse Redick, Task Force 38 intelligence non-commissioned officer, said Iraq desert atmosphere provided different challenges while shooting weapons than Indiana's grassy surroundings, and he was thankful to familiarize himself to shooting in the new environment.

"There's sand everywhere here. That makes for harder stabilization when you're shooting," said Redick. "We need to make sure we can actually shoot here, keep basic riflemen skills up-to-date, and maintain safety."

In order to guarantee that safety, above standard skills and readiness, Task Force 38 Soldiers worked around their aviation missions and their jobs to maintain their basic Soldiering skills.

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