Photo By Ensign Greg Hall | NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BANGOR, Wash. (July 18, 2018) Sailors assigned to the aircraft...... read more read more
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“Firing line is clear and safe. Firing line is hot. Shooters and line coaches up to the line. Shooters verify the nine millimeter is clear and safe. Line coaches verify the weapon is clear and safe. Shooters with six round magazines, pouch up. Load and make ready. Standby. Fire!”
A chorus of thunder surrounded Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as they focused on their sights and fired off shot after shot, during a weapons familiarization course at a firing range on Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in an effort to earn qualifications for watches they will stand aboard Nimitz.
“The requirement is watchstanders receive sustainment training every eight months and an annual certification,” said Senior Chief Gunner’s Mate Matthew Justin Rayburn, from Beaumont, Texas. “We recently increased the frequency of the training and are trying to get to the range every month. We want to get new shooters out here to get qualified and give other Sailors plenty of opportunity to requalify. We want to maintain our duty section support and our force protection posture.”
Rayburn said there’s a process to get live-fire certified. A Sailor has to complete a personnel qualification standard, go through live-fire drills and answer knowledge-based questions. Even qualified Sailors have to go through a refresher course before they can requalify.
Sailors are paired with a line coach who provides instruction and helps them as they work through the course of fire.
“I was here to qualify on the 9mm pistol for watchstanding purposes, and my line coach helped direct me and made me feel comfortable shooting,” said Cmdr. Rob Vohrer, from Lake George, New York, the maintenance officer aboard Nimitz. “Before today, I had never shot a gun during my time in the Navy, but the qualification process makes me feel proficient and confident in what I am doing.”
Rayburn said they are trying to increase the overall posture of Nimitz so they can react to any kind of foreign or domestic threat while in the shipyard, home port and in ports overseas.
“The reality is their coach won't be there if they face an actual threat and have to draw a weapon,” said Rayburn. “We try to instill as much knowledge as we can so they feel empowered and confident enough to handle a weapon.”
Nimitz is currently conducting a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2018 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 285084 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 418 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Down Range: Nimitz Sailors Earn Weapons Qualifications, by ENS Greg Hall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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