43rd SB master gunner trains Soldiers

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Stone | The 43rd Sustainment Brigade Soldiers compete in a disassembly and reassembly contest on their M2 machine guns. 43rd SB held a small arms training class Jan 12 - 15.  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

01.15.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Stone 

4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Newly certified as a small arms master gunner, Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Trillo is filling a need he saw in his brigade.

Trillo, master gunner, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, organized an in depth class to teach Rough Rider Soldiers about the weapon systems assigned to them.
The class covered the M4 carbine, M249 squad automatic weapon, M240B machine gun, M2 machine gun and Mark 19 40mm grenade launcher, providing the basic knowledge to confidently use the weapons.

“We don’t compare ourselves with a combat arms unit,” said Trillo. “We don’t have the same roles. But just because we are not on the front line, doesn’t mean we won’t find ourselves there at any given moment.”

Many of the Soldiers have only a basic knowledge of machine guns, according to Trillo.

“We need to know our jobs as sustainers and be proficient with the weapons as well,” said Trillo. “We need to be able to employ any machine gun and do damage to the enemy.”

Soldiers from almost every company in the brigade attended the class. They learned the characteristics of the machine guns as well as how to operate and zero with all the optics systems.

“I wanted to learn more about weapons,” said Sgt. Samuel Martin, multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer, 534th Signal Company, 43rd Special Troops Battalion, 43rd SB. “The only weapons I use on a regular basis are the M4 and M16.”

The class ran for five days in the 43rd SB headquarters building with plans to expand the class to get range time as well.
“The intent is to conduct 40 hours of classroom instruction, hands-on assembly and disassembly and maintenance,” said Trillo. “Ultimately we want to get a lot of trigger time, put everything in to action.”

Trillo said he wanted the students to pass on what they had learned after the class finished. A few of them were already making plans.

“The three of us from our company plan to put on classes when we get back,” said Martin. “We have the weapons in our arms room; we should all know how to use them.”

• Date Taken: 01.15.2015
• Date Posted: 01.29.2015 12:41
• Story ID: 153035
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US
• Hometown: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US