Keeping Soldiers safe by keeping the weapons working

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Joel Redman (left) from Page Ariz. and Turbin, Okla. Native Pfc. Eric Marcellus (right) both UH-60 Black Hawk crew chiefs for Company C, 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, reassemble their M2 .50 caliber machine gun during a two-day armorers course Oct. 22 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan J. Hoskins, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs)  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

11.23.2006

Courtesy Story

1st Cavalry Division

By Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait –Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment made good use of their time last month as they waited to move north from Kuwait to Iraq.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers attended an armorer's course instructed by Military Professionals Resource Incorporated.

The class focused on giving company level armorers the ability to access, repair and fine-tune a weapons system, said the MPRI instructor, who asked not to be identified.

Soldiers who took the class could later train other Soldiers in the unit to be company level armorers, as well.

"This class benefits the whole unit. [Because of this class,] these young armorers know what to look for. They can correct problems and order adequate parts," said Sgt. Eric Kay from Georgetown, Del., a door gunner for Company A, 3-227th.

Although it was an armorers' class, other Soldiers attended so they could be put on a list of back-up armorers.

Many of the battalion's armorers wear other hats, serving in positions such as crew chief. The class gives the units the ability to have other knowledgeable Soldiers on the ground to take up the slack while the armorer is flying, said Spc. Joel Redman from Page, Ariz., a Black Hawk crew chief for Company C.

With missions running all the time, having more Soldiers within the brigade with this knowledge and capability is beneficial to the mission in Iraq, said Col. Daniel Shanahan, commander of 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, who observed the Soldiers during class before moving north to Kuwait.

During the class, Soldiers had to disassemble, inspect and reassemble the .50-caliber machine gun and later the M-9 pistol.

Though the Soldiers got hands-on practice on numerous weapons systems throughout their class time, the .50-caliber machine gun was the most complicated weapon system they dealt with, said the MPRI instructor.

Still, no matter how complicated, Soldiers paid close attention – many of them taking notes. They realized that their fellow Soldier's lives depended on a working weapon, said Kay.

"This class ensures survivability. When it's all said and done, your weapon's your last friend. It's never going to let you down if you don't let it down," said Kay.

• Date Taken: 11.23.2006
• Date Posted: 11.28.2006 15:57
• Story ID: 8412
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW