Michigan Army National Guard’s C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment Accomplishes 100% Qualification Rate on the British SA80 Assault Rifle

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Ames | On Sept. 11, 2017 Soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment receive training from a member of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry on the proper usage of the SA80, a British assault rifle used by many British units. After receiving less than a day of training on the SA80, all 73 Soldiers that shot the weapon qualified to British standards with 17 of the Soldiers qualifying as experts (40 out of 50 rounds).  

SENNELAGER, GERMANY

09.11.2017

Story by Maj. Charles Calio 

126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

SENNELAGER TRAINING AREA, Germany – Members of C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment (1-125IN) of the Michigan Army National Guard spent the day qualifying on the SA80, an assault rifle used by many British units. After arriving at Sennelager Training Area on Sept. 10, 2017, C Company did not waste any time and went straight to work on Sept. 11th, learning the basics of the SA80 as taught by instructors of the United Kingdom’s Royal Wessex Yeomanry.

C Company’s Soldiers impressed throughout the day especially considering the SA80 is not their standard issue weapon. “I am exceptionally proud of my Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Call, the acting first sergeant of C Company. “They basically had less than a day’s block of instruction on the usage of the SA80, and then despite being tired from the long trip to Germany and going non-stop since our arrival, they went out and knocked the socks out of today’s training event.”

All 71 Soldiers that participated in the training event qualified on the SA80 thus accomplishing a 100% pass rate. To receive an “expert” qualification, a Soldier had to shoot 40 out of 50 targets. Of the 73 C Company Soldiers that shot, 17 scored expert. The high score was 46, shot by Sgt. Christian Fricke of Muskegon, Michigan.

“I take great pride in what I do and in my military service, but I’ve gotta say that I was stoked to receive the high score today,” said Fricke. “It was a lot of fun and the British instructors were great.”

• Date Taken: 09.11.2017
• Date Posted: 09.11.2017 16:21
• Story ID: 247818
• Location: SENNELAGER, DE
• Hometown: GRAND RAPIDS, MI, US