HALAWA RANGE, Hawaii - With the importance of warfighting readiness, Sailors assigned to the weapons department aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70), creatively found ways to train and qualify watchstanders while strictly adhering to social distancing and COVID-19 precautions.
“We utilized different training techniques which not only were in accordance with social distancing rules, but also created a more intimate training environment,” said Chief Fire Controlman Joe Saxon. “By breaking down shooting groups below the 10-person threshold, the weapons instructors demonstrated weapons familiarization and dry fire exercises at a near one-to-one ratio.”
The crew welcomed this new method of instruction.
“The small groups took pressure off the entire event,” said Ensign Lindsey Wan, Hopper’s electrical officer. “Even though it wasn’t ideal to shoot with masks on, the training proved invaluable during the actual shoot.”
After the instruction was complete, the range safety officer, Fire Controlman 2nd Class Layke Hofknecht, ensured each member shooting and all firing line coaches continued to meet COVID-19 safety requirements.
“We conducted the training in smaller groups to cut down the number of Sailors on the firing line,” explained Hofknecht. “Our line coaches couldn’t keep the 6-foot standoff because of range safety protocols, so we ensured both shooters and line coaches wore protective face coverings and gloves.”
By the end of the firearms course of instruction, Hopper’s weapons team qualified over 30 Sailors to operate an M9 pistol, M4 rifle and an M500 shotgun to include day and low light shooting. Innovative thinking continues to keep Hopper and her Sailors at the forefront of the fight. Dare and Do!
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2020 20:40 |
| Story ID: | 368831 |
| Location: | HALAWA RANGE, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Range is Hot, by CPO Adam Congello, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
