Florida Guardsmen complete the Senior Gunner course

CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

09.11.2020

Courtesy Story

107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP BLANDING, Fla - Florida National Guardsmen attended the Senior Gunner course from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, 2020 at Camp Blanding, Fla. to train as mounted machine gun (MMG) gunnery subject matter experts (SME’s).

The course is geared toward non-commissioned officers and it equips them with the knowledge necessary for them to assist commanders at all echelons of planning, executing, and evaluating MMG direct-fire platform gunnery.

The future of the army appears to be moving towards gunnery-based training,” Staff Sgt. Kevin Knight Jr., Bradley Master Gunner Senior Gunner Instructor, ARNG Warrior Training Center Ft. Benning, Ga. “With this ideal, Soldiers who graduate from this course, will have the knowledge base necessary to aid in the planning process and assisting in the execution of that training. 

Some of the levels of instruction each student receives in the course include Gunnery Training Management, Vehicle Crew Evaluator (VCE) certification, Range Operations, Direct Fire Engagement Process (DIDEA), Small Arms Ammunition, Armed Forces Vehicle Identification, a Gunnery Skills Test (GST) on the M240B, M2, and MK19 crew served weapons, and the prerequisites to conducting a Live Fire event.

“This course gave me a better understanding of how the evaluation happens, how to train and certify evaluators,” said Staff Sgt. Derek Simmons, Headquarters Headquarters Company 2-124 Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “This training is extremely important for the Army moving forward and I gained a lot from attending it.”

The National Guard continues to train and remain a relevant fighting force. This year the Guard continues to support the COVID-19 mission, has deployed several units and remains vigilant during the current hurricane season.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2020
• Date Posted: 10.06.2020 10:20
• Story ID: 379348
• Location: CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA, US