CAMP SHELBY JOINT FORCES TRAINING CENTER, Miss. - Starting at 10 a.m., through rain and storms, until 11 p.m. soldiers of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team work on their team’s communication and effectiveness at the gunnery range as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan.
“Gunnery table ranges are not just about the guy firing, it is about the whole team and their ability to communicate,” explained Staff Sgt. Steven Berry, infantryman and first squad leader of the movement team. “If the teams do not learn to communicate here, they will fail when they go over there, so this training is vital.”
Spending two days out at the range during each training session, the soldiers on the movement team agree that they feel well trained. “This is the third or fourth range that we have participated in this year, getting trigger time and communication training,” said Sgt. Brandon Clark, infantryman and third squad driver with the movement team. “At every range we conduct after action reviews, and we take in all the constructive criticism and advice they give us and continue to fine tune and perfect how we operate.”
Assuring their team is fully prepared is essential because the movement team will be the soldiers that travel with all personnel going outside posts in Afghanistan.
“We want to ensure our troops are properly trained and know what their job is specifically, as well as how to do each other’s job in case anything happens,” explains Berry. “For example, during today’s training, we practiced the gunner getting hit, and the truck commander having to climb up in the turret and do what the gunner normally does. This guarantees that we are all prepared for whatever may come our way.”
First Army East Observer-coach/trainers, riding in each Oshkosh M-ATV, critique the team’s abilities to communicate and go through the proper steps of engaging a target.
“Enemy troops with RPG, to the 3 o’clock, 500 meters,” yells team one gunner.
“Roger, target identified. Fire and adjust!” orders the truck commander.
“On the way,” responds the gunner as he fires. “TARGET!” he screams, identifying that his target is destroyed.
“Target, Target, Target,” yells the truck commander and begins to send his reports over the radio.
“It is all about building proper communication in the truck and accurately conducting engagements with enemy personnel,” reiterates Sgt. Thomas Beatty, medic with the movement team. “And our teams are the best at it. We will excel standards, and our team will be the best team to travel with in Afghanistan.”
| Date Taken: |
12.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: |
12.19.2013 13:52 |
| Story ID: |
118484 |
| Location: |
CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Hometown: |
MACON, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: |
33 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Rain or shine, night or day, gunnery tables is the way, by SPC Hannah Fulcher, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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