Photo By Patricia Dubiel | HAWKINS read more read more
He has all the required training an MP of his rank should have, but now he’s added an additional skill to his toolbox: Master gunner.
“The master gunner common core course is (aimed at) those of us who do not have an organic gun platform, like Bradleys, Abrams or Strykers; it (covers) mobile or mounted machine guns like 50-calibers and 240 Brownings,” said Hawkins. “It’s called common core because it (covers) the common weapons platform for most units.”
The goal of the course is to learn how to detect and identify enemy targets, determine the best weapon and ammunition to engage with them, and calculate the range to engage the threat.
Hawkins said he was the only MP in the class, and when he asked the cadre about previous students who may have been MPs, he was told he was the first they knew of that made it through the class. “I don’t know how well they keep those kind of records, but some of them had been there a long time, and they said they couldn’t remember any MPs taking the course. Others said there have been MPs that came through, but none of them passed,” he said.
Those who are selected to attend the master gunner course must be NCOs with high GT scores. In the span of just under four weeks, students learn advanced universal gunnery methodologies, gunnery training with a focus on vehicle mounted machine gun weapons systems and the planning and implementation of gunnery training programs. The curriculum covers direct fire and weapons training; ammunition and ballistics; gunnery training management; and developing a unit training plan.
“I knew Hawkins was the right guy for this course because of his commitment to excellence in everything he does,” said Lt. Col. Sonja Whitehead, 519th MP Bn commander. “He is (dedicated) to taking the 519th to the next level as our Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment first sergeant and closely tied to battalion operations.”
A master gunner in the unit becomes the commander’s technical and tactical expert on anything related to the vehicle, platform or weapons system and can help develop materials to conduct gunnery and live fire exercises.
“I’ve been to easier Army courses, but this one sounded interesting,” said Hawkins. “I know the MP Corps is trying to get this capability out there so we can build better gunnery capabilities and become more lethal on the battlefield.”
Hawkins will apply his training by building more realistic training scenarios for his unit and sharing his knowledge with others.
“Hawkins is the only master gunner qualified Soldier in our battalion and among very few in the Military Police Corps,” said Whitehead. “It’s my intent that the 519th greatly increase our lethality by completing all tables of gunnery to standard, and to conduct realistic live fire exercises at all echelons to closer match our combat arms brethren. We need the kind of expertise Hawkins now has to get there.”
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.11.2018 14:23 |
| Story ID: | 296048 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,068 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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