Courtesy Photo | The Kuwaiti general, Kuwaiti soldiers and 201st award recipients posed for a picture...... read more read more
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — Three soldiers from Task Force 201 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait received certificates of appreciation from Kuwaiti Brig. Gen. Ferras Ali Al-Sabti last week.
The 201st soldiers, Staff Sgt. Robert Cooke, Spc. Colin Smith, and Spc. Lance Dicken were recognized for conducting a weapons maintenance class for the 94thMechanized Infantry Brigade, commonly referred to as the Al-Yarmouk Brigade. Originally the Camp Buehring contractors, who handle all the ranges and weapons classes for Buehring, were supposed to conduct the class but due to a scheduling conflict, the 201st soldiers volunteered to fill in.
“It was kind of a train the trainer course for the M2 and M60 machine guns,” explained Cooke, from Morgantown, W.Va. “They were issued these weapons without ever receiving an operator or maintenance class. They knew all the basics, but they weren’t conducting the proper maintenance necessary for these weapons to perform properly.”
The three-day training consisted of basic weapons operations, extensive maintenance and how to perform immediate corrective actions for malfunctions.
“The M60 class was rather impromptu,” continued Cooke. “We had just completed the maintenance class for the M2 when 25 Kuwaiti soldiers fresh from the range barged in, asking us to give them a quick maintenance class as well.”
The M60, formally named the United States Machine Gun and referred to as “The Pig” in the Vietnam war was first introduced to the U.S. Army in 1957 but has since been replaced by the M240, although it is still in use by other armed forces.
“Not many soldiers have ever had the opportunity to use the M60 so finding an instructor for them wouldn’t have been easy,” remarked Cooke. “But lucky for them, I had used the M60 when I was in the Marine Corp as a marksmanship instructor back in 1992.”
Out of gratitude, Cooke, Dicken and Smith were invited to meet the Kuwaiti Brig. Gen. on December 21 at the brigade army headquarters.
“We were excited to meet the general but we had no idea he was going to present us with certificates of appreciation,” explained Cooke. “Brig. Gen. Ferras Ali Al-Sabti thanked us and shook each of our hands. He explained many of his men haven’t had the opportunity to receive advanced training on the machine guns because it’s so hard to find knowledgeable instructors.”
“I’m glad we had the opportunity to assist the Kuwaiti Army,” continued Cooke. “They were extremely knowledgeable and very attentive during the classes and we had an amazing time interacting with them.”
For the 201st soldiers, the three-day class was a win-win.
The Kuwaiti Army is more knowledgeable and better prepared to utilize their issued weapons systems and the successful weapons classes represent the remarkable bond between U.S. and Kuwaiti forces.
| Date Taken: | 01.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.01.2011 03:41 |
| Story ID: | 62843 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 194 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, 201st Soldiers Receive Awards from Kuwaiti Army, by SFC Debra Richardson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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