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JOHNSTON, Iowa - Far from the deltas of Vietnam, Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers are training on a tried-and-true weapon system during annual training at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The weapon, designed for the Navy’s river patrol boats almost 50 years ago, is older than the Soldiers who must become proficient with its operation.
The Army's current version of the Mk 19 machine gun can fire up to 375 high-explosive rounds per minute as far 2,212 meters and can penetrate up to 2 inches of steel armor, neutralizing threats within a 15 meter radius of impact.
“It takes courage because of the power behind it. You have to make sure you fire it properly,” said Pfc. Peter Leon, of Centerville, Iowa, assigned to 2nd Platoon, 186th Military Police Company from Camp Dodge, Iowa.
“We did a lot of familiarization drills, simulated firing, and loading (of the Mk 19) before coming here,” he said.
Leon wasn’t even born when the Army adapted the Mk 19 for service in 1983, but he’s one of many Iowa Army Guard Soldiers who train on its use and qualify each year at the range.
Although this is Leon’s first annual training trip, he and other Soldiers from his unit trained frequently on the operation, maintenance, and capabilities of the weapon, even before coming to Fort McCoy.
A more experienced shooter, Sgt. Tyson Fisher from Melcher-Dallas, Iowa, who is assigned to the 3654th Maintenance Company, Iowa Army National Guard, emphasized the importance of training Soldiers on the Mk 19 before coming to the range. As a small arms repairer, Fisher noted he has fired 5,000 to 6,000 rounds with the Mk 19.
Fisher had his Soldiers completely disassemble the weapon and taught them how to properly perform a function check and adjust the timing of the rounds entering the firing chamber. He also taught them how to hit the target by adjusting the point of impact using the traverse and elevation mechanism before a round is ever fired.
Fisher said he makes a competition of the Mk 19 training, having Soldiers field-strip and re-assemble the weapon to help put them at ease “… from the intimidation factor of it. It’s a big weapon but nothing to be scared of. Safety is an important issue,” he added.
Lt. Jacob Schuler, of Indianola, Iowa, 2nd Platoon leader of the 186th Military Police Company, is the officer responsible for safety at the range.
He said all Soldiers receive a safety briefing before going to a firing point and there are two range safeties at each point to assist the firer with any issues to ensure safe operation.
“The safeties must be familiar with the weapon to fix any issues. They know exactly what to do with the weapon system,” said Schuler.
Range safety noncommissioned officer Sgt. 1st Class Lance Czaplewski from Ankeny, Iowa, 2nd Platoon sergeant with the 186th Military Police Company, said younger Soldiers often have a “fear of the weapon because of the size of the rounds going down range.
“Listen to the safeties, you’ll know what to do and when to do it and have fun firing the weapon,” said Czaplewski.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2014 18:32 |
| Story ID: | 136625 |
| Location: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | ANKENY, IA, US |
| Hometown: | CENTERVILLE, IA, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANOLA, IA, US |
| Hometown: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | MELCHER-DALLAS, IA, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Iowa National Guard Soldiers train on tried-and-true weapon system, by SSG Darwin Seehusen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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