2-18 weapons training: for the birds

Photo By Spc. Jazz Burney | Spc. Chase Leeks, a Panama City, Fla., native, now a scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, uses the joystick of a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station to acquire a target as Erick Gordon, a Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., native, now a CROWS training specialist with Tank Automotive and Armament Command supervises, during a five-day, 40-hour course where soldiers became certified CROWS operators, March 19.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN

03.19.2011

Story by Sgt. Jazz Burney 

170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KUNDUZ, Afghanistan - A soldier standing in the turret of a military vehicle faces many dangers while on mounted combat patrols in Afghanistan, including rounds fired by a sniper, grenade attacks or a vehicle roll-over.

That’s why leaders with 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have sought to mitigate these threats to their soldiers by incorporating the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS, as an important addition to their combat operations.

The CROWS allows soldiers to man their crew-served weapon systems, using a joystick and a remote video positioned behind the driver’s headrest, while seated safely within the cab of the vehicle. Eight soldiers with 2-18 Infantry became certified CROWS operators during a five-day, 40-hour certification course here March 19.

“The CROWS system gives soldiers a steady position of not being outside the vehicle and receiving the total force of a roll-over or an IED blast,” said Erick Gordon, a Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., native, now a CROWS training specialist with Tank Automotive and Armament Command. “The system also has a confirmed kill distance of more than 2,000 meters, which gives soldiers long-range, first round-on-target fire.”

The system includes three cameras that work together to increase round accuracy and provide additional assets in a combat environment.

The cameras consist of a visual image module that is used for daytime operations, a thermal image module camera that picks up the heat signatures created by suicide vests or improvised explosive devices, and a laser range finder camera used for precision fire.

“This system takes me out of the danger zone. I don’t run that risk of being ejected from the vehicle and crushed, it basically takes me completely out of fire,” said Pvt. Michael Hill, a Dalton, Ga., native, now an infantryman with B Company, 2-18 Infantry.

Hill added that the thermal camera gives him a more effective way to inform his truck commander during night operations.

The first four days of the certification course consisted of hands-on training with the system. Instructors gave a more detailed explanation of the M2 .50-caliber machine gun, because it has to be manually and electronically adjusted to the system, said Gordon.

On the final day, soldiers tested the electronic weapon system. After traveling by convoy to a local firing range, the soldiers climbed inside their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, grabbed the joysticks and began honing their skills.

“Even though this system is tailored for younger generation operators who are familiar with computer games and the various game consoles, I know that when I am outside the wire and operating this system, this is not a game and there is no restart button,” said Hill.

After firing the weapon system, the soldiers took a 26-question, certification test.

This was the first cycle of certifications for the unit, but the battalion will continue training until the gunners of 2-18 Infantry are trained and ready to operate the CROWS system, therefore reducing additional threats to their safety.

• Date Taken: 03.19.2011
• Date Posted: 03.25.2011 08:00
• Story ID: 67712
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE KUNDUZ, AF