Photo By Staff Sgt. Syreetta Watts | Staff Sgt. Isaak Moser, a squad leader with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor...... read more read more
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(TAPA TRAINING AREA, Estonia) - Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division held their range week at Tapa Training Area, Estonia July 11-15.
Range week ensures all personnel are qualified on their primary and secondary weapon systems, to include day and night qualification with the M4 rifle and M9 pistol.
Soldiers from 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt. are currently in Estonia as a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.
The Soldiers started the week by qualifying with their M4 and M9 weapons and continued to qualify on various weapons throughout the week, to include the M320 grenade launcher, M249 squad automatic weapon and the Mk-19 grenade launcher.
Staff Sgt. Isaak Moser, a squad leader with Co. A, 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt., said some of the challenges they faced during range week was the Estonian terrain and wildlife.
“The land is not flat here; it's very uneven,” said Moser. “This is by far the most ostentatious land to train on, but it’s the most realistic that we can come by because we are used to qualifying on flat ground.”
Moser said setting up their own ranges with the limited resources available forced their junior leaders to get creative to ensure they received the same training value out of the ranges.
“The Soldiers had a positive aspect about the training, and they have really impressed me and made me proud,” said Moser.
Pvt. 1st Class Gerrit Vanzee, an armored crewman with Co. A, 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt., said though the ranges were different than what they were used to in the states, qualifying in Estonia still provided some great opportunities.
“Night firing was interesting, because in Estonia you only get about two hours of darkness [in the summer],” said Vanzee. “It was a very cool experience.”
| Date Taken: | 07.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2016 03:56 |
| Story ID: | 204213 |
| Location: | EE |
| Web Views: | 187 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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