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Back to the basics

Photo By Maj. Adan Cazarez | Brass lands in the dirt as a paratrooper from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd...... read more read more

FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

07.27.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher Freeman

82nd Combat Aviation Brigade

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – With the sun on their back and sweat running down their face, paratroopers of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade came together to conduct a consolidated “range rodeo” following their recent return from Afghanistan.

The rodeo gave the paratroopers the chance to qualify on multiple weapons systems, ranging from the M9 pistol to the M240 machine gun. Each battalion was tasked with running different ranges, inspiring teamwork and showing that everyone is in the fight.

With so many ranges and weapons systems being used across various ranges at Fort Bragg, there was one theme that stayed at the forefront of not only the paratroopers but the safeties’ minds: Safety.

“It is very important to be safe out here,” said Staff Sgt. Sergio Tabares-Cristo, AH-64 attack helicopter repairer, 1st Battalion 82nd CAB. “There is no room for error when firing live rounds so we constantly stress safety out here at the range.”

The safety of all personnel starts with a brief from the noncommissioned officer and officer in charge of the range, long before they are given live rounds to fire.

“When they arrive, they get a brief by either the NCO or officer in charge,” said Tabares-Cristo. “Once we brief them, they have their weapons inspected to ensure no live rounds are in the weapon prior to entering the range.”

For these ranges, the paratroopers were given an additional brief by the OIC on the fundamentals of firing their weapon.

“Once they receive their safety brief for the M4 rifle range, they are given preliminary marksmanship instruction,” said 1st Lt. Timothy Huppert, an Apache pilot assigned to 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd CAB, 82nd Airborne Division. “Most are familiar with the fundamentals, we just help ensure everyone understands the importance of the basics of firing their assigned weapon."

Once the paratroopers step onto the live part of the range, they are met by safeties who will be by their side for the duration of their time on the firing line.

“The safeties have the most important role,” said Tabares-Cristo. “They ensure the range is executed in the safest manner and attempt to fix any malfunctions, ensuring the smoothest operation of the range.”

On the other side of Fort Bragg, the paratroopers fired fully automatic M249 squad automatic weapons and the M240 machine gun, further adding to their lethality on the battlefield.

“With the type of operations the 82nd Airborne Division performs, we need to have multiple capabilities,” said Sgt. Jonathan Gowans, aircraft power plant repairer, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd CAB. “With the Global Response Force, you don’t know what type of operations you are going to encounter, so having these weapons systems gives us additional options on the battlefield.”

The M249 squad automatic weapon and the M240 machine gun also bring another element into the fight: teamwork.

“The machine gun team is just that, a team,” said Gowans. “The assistant gunner needs to talk to the gunner and help him place accurate fire. If you are on a fire team and have the only machine gun and your team comes under fire, they are going to look to you for suppressive fire.”

With the weapons systems fired, these paratroopers get back to the fundamentals that start all the way back at their initial training into the Army.

“It’s important to maintain these skills that we initially learn at Basic Combat Training,” said Command Sgt. Maj. William Elliott, senior enlisted for the 82nd CAB. “The aviation brigade has a diverse mission from flying aircraft, maintaining them, running a dining facility, refueling trucks and so on. You name it and we are doing it across the brigade.”

The senior enlisted also share his philosophy on just how important weapons proficiency is.

“When we take our specialties away, we are all paratroopers, and we need to be able to fire our assigned weapon accurately and safely,” said Elliott.

These ranges will help establish the fundamentals for success as the brigade prepares for its aerial gunnery exercise occurring in September.