Reserve Soldiers increase readiness by qualifying

Photo By Pfc. Aiden Griffitts | U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Nina Armstrong, a human resources specialist with the 387th Human Resources Company, aims and fires her weapon in the standing supported position while Spc. Cory Smith, a motor transport operator with the 368th Financial Management Support Unit, coaches her during an annual weapons qualification in Salina, KS on November 4th, 2023. The 387th and 368th conducted marksmanship training to maintain army standards and improve unit readiness.  

SALINA, KS, UNITED STATES

11.05.2023

Story by Pfc. Aiden Griffitts 

207th Public Affairs Detachment

SALINA, KS. - U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 368th Financial Management Support Unit and the 387th Human Resources Company conducted their annual weapons qualification in Salina, Kansas from the 3rd through the 5th of November, 2023.

The annual weapons qualification gives the soldiers a chance to refresh the various weapon skills they have previously learned, improve their weapon readiness and hone their skills in preparation for real-world scenarios.

“The qualification tables are really important and we start off with just zeroing to make sure the soldiers are comfortable with their weapons,” 1st Sgt. Norman Wade, the First Sergeant of the 387th Postal Company.

The readiness in which soldiers train consists of multiple steps to increase their skills and performance in the long run, starting with zeroing, which increases their confidence and comfort for when they eventually have to qualify.

“One thing for readiness is numbers, you have to have soldiers that actually want to be here, so today's range is the M4 range but yesterday we were able to do the M17," said 1st Sgt.Wade, “some units have those weapons and some units don't but we were able to work with another unit and soldiers that were never able to use that equipment got to use it”

The skills of the soldiers were applied to multiple different weapons during their qualifications, improving both their morale and their versatility, while also giving the soldiers a chance to both learn and qualify on different weapons.

“It is really important that you stay active in doing things for your soldiers, soldier engagement is so huge,” said Norman. "I had a conversation with a soldier and he said 'you're one of the best first sergeants I've ever had' and I said well why and he said well because we actually get to do stuff.”

• Date Taken: 11.05.2023
• Date Posted: 11.22.2023 16:54
• Story ID: 457659
• Location: SALINA, KS, US