Battalions of 170th IBCT work as one team

Photo By Spc. Nathan Goodall | Soldiers with 24th Brigade Support Battalion, installs modifications to a 1st Battalion, 84th Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team soldiers' weapon at Camp Griffin, March 19.  

CAMP GRIFFIN, AFGHANISTAN

03.19.2011

Story by Pfc. Nathan Goodall 

170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CAMP GRIFFIN, Afghanistan – U.S. Army soldiers come together to fight as one team even if they’re not in the same unit. If a soldier can lend a helping hand to another soldier, it will be done.

Soldiers with B Company, 24th Brigade Support Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team performed maintenance and modifications on 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th IBCT soldiers’ weapons to give them an advantage on the battlefield here, March 19.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose Cruz, a Bonce, Puerto Rico native, now the 170th IBCT armament technician with B Company, 24th BSB, came to Camp Griffin with his crew to install flash suppressors on HHB, 1-84 Field Artillery soldiers’ M4 carbines and perform maintenance on their .50-caliber and M240B machine guns, an example of how the battalions within the 170th IBCT come together to fight as one team.

The maintenance soldiers removed the M4 carbine compensators and replaced them with flash suppressors. A suppressor has a smaller opening than a compensator, so it minimizes the amount of gas that comes out of the barrel when fired, thereby reducing the muzzle flash, said Cruz.

“The most important reason why this is beneficial, is that if we have to engage the enemy at night, it will lessen the enemy’s capabilities to see where our soldiers are at,” said Cruz.

Because night vision equipment amplifies any light available, a bright muzzle flash can hinder a soldier’s night vision capabilities. The flash suppressor reduces the harsh light that comes from firing rounds out of a weapon, allowing soldiers to maintain a clear view when using night vision equipment, said Cruz.

The modification was received with enthusiasm, said Staff Sgt. David R. Thetford, a Mansfield, Texas native, now a fire support specialist with HHB, 1-84 Field Artillery.

“It’s pretty good to get a modification like this, anything that helps me and my soldiers’ safety is great,” said Thetford. “It benefits us on the battlefield and gives us an advantage.”

Spc. Clayton F. Jackson, a Canton, Ga., native, now a tracked vehicle repairman with HHB, 1-84 Field Artillery, got the chance to test out his flash suppressor at the firing range.

“I think it’s great,” said Jackson. “Less flame came out of the barrel and it didn’t hurt my accuracy at all. It does its job so I can do mine.”

Cpl. Steffan Eggermont, a Newport News, Va., native, now an armament repairman with B Company, 24th BSB was one of the Soldiers who arrived at Griffin to perform weapons modifications and maintenance for 1-84 soldiers. Steffan expressed his satisfaction with being able to do this as part of his job.

“[I like] interacting with other units and getting everyone’s weapons set up,” said Eggermont. “It’s great. It keeps our Soldiers in the fight.”

The team from B Company, 24th BSB will be continuing to upgrade weapons for fellow Bayonet soldiers through the remainder of the brigade’s deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 03.19.2011
• Date Posted: 03.21.2011 08:29
• Story ID: 67455
• Location: CAMP GRIFFIN, AF