Photo By Cpl. Michael Dye | A MK19 40mm automatic grenade launcher is fired from an Amphibious Assault Vehicle...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion conducted Heavy Brigade Combat Team operations Nov. 16 through 20, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
HBCT is a three-week course, which improved the Marines’ ability to understand how the operating procedures of the Assault Amphibious Vehicle’s weapon systems and also trained the Marines to identify the capabilities and limitations of enemy vehicles.
“The AAV itself is a weapon system, so that means the crew who operates these vehicles has to qualify as a team before they can progress on to larger-scale maneuvers,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Connors, a master gunner for the battalion. “This training is scaled to start at the lowest level, one vehicle, and work the way to maneuvering several vehicles at one time down range.”
The training helped the crewmen hone their skills and qualified each crew to operate the vehicle.
Furthermore the training qualified a section of three AAVs moving down a live-fire range, maneuvering and covering each other while engaging targets.
“The amphibious assault unit is the most expeditionary unit the Marine Corps has,” Connors said. “It brings the Marine Corps to its roots in being able to rapidly deploy Marines from ship to shore. When we are doing training like this it really aids in driving the [2nd Marine] Division’s standard to deploy at a moment’s notice.”
The qualification course consisted of 10 engagements, forcing the Marines to act quickly within a time limit to engage and essentially kill the target.
“This training is also important because it qualifies these crews to be able to deploy and/or get attached to Marine Expeditionary Units,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Harris, a section leader with the unit. “The training allows the Marines to build on the confidence they already have and allows the crew to demonstrate their skill in working together.”
After the week-long field operation, Harris was not only honored as the high shooter of the range, but was recognized for having the highest score in the entire Marine Corps AAV community. Harris and his crew scored 998 points out of a possible 1,000 points.
Harris went on to say that on average Marines score is between 860 to the low 900s during this course of fire, and other teams have scored in the 950 point range.
“The Marines have done exceptional work this week,” said Connors. “We saw a lot of superior shooting from all the crew members and a lot of high scores.”
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2015 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 182843 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 296 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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