Photo By Daniel Malta | Lance Cpl. Robert McRoy, MAG-13 Armorer, performs a simple functions check on an M16...... read more read more
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YUMA, Ariz. - The few armorers on station ensure every weapon going in and out of their armory is well cleaned and functioning properly so year after year Marines can stay trained and battle ready.
“Our weeks usually align with the range schedules, so that means we start at 4 a.m. and finish up around 5 or 6 p.m.,” said Skyler Taylor, Marine Aircraft Group 13 armory supervisor from Anchorage, Alaska.
Taylor stated his main job is to train and back up his Marines when they’re trying to do their job.
“People are always trying to cut corners when it comes to cleaning the rifles, and then they get mad at my Marines for just doing their jobs,” said Taylor.
Taylor trains his Marines on how to work the window and provide good customer service, addressing people by their ranks and learning about the proper paper work involved with their job.
When the MAG-13 armory Marines inspect weapons, they are usually conducting a limited technical inspections or a pre-fire inspection. During these inspections, they are looking for things such as the barrel straightness, headspace, timing, fire pin
protrusion and more, according to Lance Cpl. Robert McRay, an armorer with MAG- 13.
“We are the subject matter experts, so if we are not doing our job, we could have a weapon malfunction and possibly injure a Marine,” said Taylor. “We are already losing enough Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. We don’t need that happening in garrison.”
Taylor was sent to Afghanistan as a Marine security guard and was deployed to Iraq to be part of a police transition team. Although he was not deployed as an armorer, it didn’t mean his talents didn’t come in handy.
“While I was down there, I was able to identify two 240’s, that we were supposed to be putting live rounds through if we came into contact with the enemy as nonoperational,” said Taylor. “I got those turned in and got us new ones.”
“It was a great experience. During that time, I got to see what it was like to be a grunt for a full year,” said Taylor. “Of course, I haven’t been in a lot of combat situations like many Marines, but it helped me get out of my comfort zone.”
Taylor explained that because armorers are always part of the ground element, any advice he can give or receive could help his Marines with there upcoming deployments.
A lot of things Taylor learned overseas he uses to benefit his Marines, but Taylor had mentioned some things you just need to figure out for yourself.
“I use to be the kind of person that would complain about stupid things, but when you come back from a place where people are doing everything they can just to get by, you really appreciate where you come from,” said Taylor. “It was really an eye
opener and has made me a more humble person.”
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2012 17:14 |
| Story ID: | 82283 |
| Location: | YUMA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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