Lion Brigade Soldiers Teach Weapon Proficiency

Photo By Staff Sgt. Victor Everhart | FORT GORDON, GA. – Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade Soldiers firing M4 rifles during a basic rifle marksmanship range Dec. 6. Soldiers of the Lion Brigade headquarters zeroed and qualified with their assigned weapons at the pop-up target range located here. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Victor Everhart Jr.)  

FORT GORDON, GA, UNITED STATES

12.06.2017

Story by Sgt. Victor Everhart 

35th Corps Signal Brigade

FORT GORDON, GA. – Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade held a basic rifle marksmanship range Dec. 6.

Soldiers of the Lion Brigade headquarters zeroed and qualified with their assigned weapons at the pop-up target range located here.

“Weapon proficiency is important in the Army because we are all Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dennis McVey. “Being proficient at your military occupational specialty as well as any tactical Soldiering you’re tasked with is pivotal to unit success.”

Headquarters companies are normally where your staff commissioned and noncommissioned officers are slotted, and one of the stereotypes for a headquarters company is that marksmanship isn’t a skill they’re known for.

“In my experience headquarters companies aren’t the best marksman but this unit is very different we had a few that needed retraining and help with coaching but overall we had a very successful day at the range,” said McVey. “I think the most important thing when talking range operations is safety and for me familiarity is the best way to accomplish this. Soldiers are required to qualify with their weapons once a year, but this doesn’t mean they should only go once a year. There are many ways to keep your basic rifle marksmanship skills sharp.”

Utilizing the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 (EST 2000) to keep skills proficient also helps Soldiers that may be struggling with basic rifle marksmanship skills. The EST 2000 is an effective inexpensive way to improve and sustain these basic Soldiering skills.

“The EST is a great way for Soldiers to get some familiarization with their weapon systems, of course the best way is using the actual system you’ll be qualifying with, but ammunition, time and range availability are issues when planning these types of training events,” said McVey.

Steady improvement and maintaining of the warrior tasks and drills is one of many ways the U.S. Army keeps the highest quality Soldiers in the world ready to deploy in a moment’s notice.

• Date Taken: 12.06.2017
• Date Posted: 12.29.2017 11:12
• Story ID: 258068
• Location: FORT GORDON, GA, US