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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, conducted training on the Javelin rocket system May 14 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
The training was conducted in preparation for the unit’s upcoming exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California.
“We started this Javelin training in a classroom environment a couple months ago and built up to today’s training,” said 2nd Lt. Harrison Barber, an operations officer with 5-20th Infantry Battalion. “We want to come out one more time before we go to NTC.”
Soldiers used Javelin simulators instead of firing live missiles. Using simulators allow the unit to train in an open area without worrying about injuring personnel or damaging equipment.
The Javelin missile is a portable missile system operated by one Soldier and is capable of tracking and defeating heavily armored vehicles like tanks and armored personnel carriers.
“We are using simulators because we can expand our training environment,” said Barber. “This is the primary weapon system for these guys to defeat heavy armor, and with the simulator they can get more training.”
Although some of the Soldiers were seasoned Javelin gunners, instructors organized the training in a way that they could maximize the training for all the Soldiers.
“We are keeping the training more informal today and only teaching a few Soldiers at a time,” said Barber. “By keeping it small we can address each Soldier individually and help them master the weapon system.”
Pfc. Rasmeyseyha Boeun, a Javelin gunner with the unit, said training in small groups is less stressful. He explained that he got the personalized attention he needed to become more proficient with the weapon.
At the end of the training, the Soldiers who went through the class said they all felt better prepared and could operate the weapon system accurately in a live-fire situation.
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2015 18:46 |
| Story ID: | 164858 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 5-20th Javelin training, by SSG James Bunn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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