Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Staff Sgt. Richard Wright gives instructions to the soldiers qualifying on the range...... read more read more
By Spc. Brian Johnson
Unit Public Affairs Representative
CAMP SHERMAN, Ohio - Members of Company A, 216th Engineer Battalion, performed their annual weapons qualification last weekend at Camp Sherman, just outside of Chillicothe.
The unit, based out of Chillicothe, has over 110 members who perform various job functions. Company A has soldiers who are carpenters, plumbers, electricians. The unit also has soldiers who operate heavy equipment including: Bulldozers, Backhoes, Rollers, and Tractor Trailers. On this weekend, everyone, no matter what their job title, had a chance to fire and qualify with their weapons. This allows a soldier stay familiar with his weapon if he should ever get called to use it.
Weapons qualification consists of a soldier trying to hit at least 40 targets with 40 rounds within a limited amount of time. The minimum required score is 26 hits with an M16 rifle. As easy as this may sound, the targets are of varying distances from 50 meters to 300 meters. Soldiers also have to qualify wearing their protective mask and at night.
Unit Commander Capt. Donald Westfall talked about the weapons qualification, “The soldiers of the unit ran a very efficient and effective range. I feel very comfortable with the results of this range and soldiers who qualified today. This is just another example of why we are 'the best in the battalion.'”
Soldiers had many different views about the weapons qualification. Spc. Nathan Osborne, from Bainbridge, said, “I thought the range was a lot of fun.” SPC Christopher Wysong, from Washington Court House said, “I really look at the weapons qualification differently now since I have returned from Iraq.”
Sgt. Herbert Peoples, from Jackson, said, “I felt the range went very smooth. It was not rushed at all. Everyone was very helpful on getting the job done. It went very well.”
Sgt. Raymond Carozza, from Hillsboro, said he felt that, “The range keeps us trained up and fresh.”
Staff Sgt. Kevin Wallace, from Lancaster, who is the unit’s Readiness NCO, felt that, “this was good training. After being gone for over a year, we were able to pick up the training where we left off with no problems.”
Spc. Benjamin Jerles, a student at Ohio University in Athens said that the range, “creates a sense of competition among everyone. For me, this is a great refresher. It lets me keep up on my skills.”
For some, the range created other feelings. Spc. Ralph Shaw of Chillicothe said that the range “is a good refresher. The weather today reminds me a bit of the hot weather in Iraq.”
Spc. Shaw also spent some time admiring the new Armory that is being built at Camp Sherman.
He said, “I am completely in awe of the new Armory.”
Spc. David Whaley, from Washington Court House had a slightly more humorous observation. He was a gunner on a HMMWV through most of the 216th deployment to Iraq.
He said, “I miss my 50 cal. This really is a change for me.”
Sgt. Patrick Wolfe, from Circleville, said that the range for him is, “an adrenaline rush. This is one of the reasons that I joined the National Guard. This is good hands on training.”
When Westfall was asked if this weapons qualification was in preparation for the company getting deployed again, he said, “Weapons qualification is a basic skill that each soldier is required to perform at a moment's notice. By running a qualification range we ensure that each soldier is familiar with his weapon and can perform the job if required. There are no hints of the unit getting activated in the near future, but if called we will respond with ready units.”
Company A, 216th Engineer Battalion, was mobilized for Iraq service in December, 2003. They spent 11 months near Tikrit, Iraq, Sadam Hussein’s hometown. They returned in February, 2005.
If you have questions about the weapons qualification, or would like more information about the National Guard, please call 740-772-1130 or 1-800-GO-Guard.
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2015 22:59 |
| Story ID: | 159264 |
| Location: | CAMP SHERMAN, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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