Service members swap weapons for a day

Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Garibay | A U.S. Marine gives an overview of the M-4 rifle to an Australian soldier during a weapons familiarization range March 11 at Multi-National Base Tarin Kot. The purpose of the range was to give service embers from different countries a functional understanding of other nations' weapons.  

TARIN KOWT, AFGHANISTAN

03.11.2011

Story by Spc. Edward Garibay 

16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TARIN KOT, Afghanistan – AK-47 rifles, Squad Automatic Weapons, Steyr AUG models, M-4 carbines and even the Singaporean SAR 21 were up for test fire during a weapons familiarization range March 11, at Multi-National Base Tarin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Combined Team Uruzgan sent an open invitation to all nations of MNBTK to receive instruction on and shoot different small arms weapons from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States.

The range featured all of the respective militaries’ major hand guns, assault rifles and light machine guns, said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Bergman, provost marshal for CTU.

Bergman, an Emory, Texas, native, said since most operations in Uruzgan province are an international effort, the range was ultimately an exercise in awareness.

“The end goal is to familiarize everyone here today with different types of weapon systems,” said New Zealand Army Warrant Officer Class 1 Hemi Brown, Afghan National Security Force training officer for CTU. “If your weapon stops and another coalition force weapon becomes available, you should be able to pick it up and fire it.”

Stations were set up with a different weapon in each firing lane. An expert would give a quick overview and walk firers through basic operations. After that, the participants were issued 10-30 round magazines to engaged targets 100 meters away utilizing single shot, three-round burst or fully automatic firing.

“I heard there was going to be an AK-47, and I immediately volunteered,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Travis Cawthorn, a combat engineer for Company B, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Hebron, Ill., native. “It’s a different experience. You get to see all the different advantages and disadvantages of all of the operating systems.”

Brown, a Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, native, said it’s natural for people to be curious about weapons, especially military service members.

“I think today’s practice proves that there is a willingness for Coalition Forces to learn about other national weapons,” said Brown. “It was truly a day enjoyed by all.”

In the future, CTU plans to continue foreign weapons training and instruct heavy weapons familiarization.

• Date Taken: 03.11.2011
• Date Posted: 03.14.2011 04:03
• Story ID: 67002
• Location: TARIN KOWT, AF