PAJU, South Korea — Only five miles below the Demilitarized Zone dividing South Korean borders from the North, loud gun firing sounds were amplified across the range as the 25th Transportation Battalion, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, conducted a live-fire crew gunnery exercise, June 28 - 29.
More than 150 Soldiers from the 25th TB traveled to the battlefront of the Korean peninsula engaging in a strenuous two-week long exercise. “Team 19” Soldiers have supported the war fight as war fighters.
For the first time, the 25th TB conducted a live-fire exercise and the Soldiers were required to identify, engage and destroy predetermined targets in three lanes. Four crews qualified for the CGE in two teams for two days enforcing Team 19’s “Fight Tonight” posture.
In the early morning, four high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles were moving to the Montana Range in a convoy to begin the exercise.
Before the teams started rolling out to the field, Capt. Brain C. Dutton, S-3 Training officer in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 25th TB, 19th ESC, gave a safety brief and explained the day’s event with a sand table.
“It is the first time our battalion executed convoy gunnery with live rounds,” said Dutton. “It is important to follow the safety measures and I am sure this will be a valuable experience for the Soldiers.”
Soldiers were given 400 rounds of ammunition to engage targets from three lanes in total, firing blanks at targets during the first and second land and finally shooting live fire on different tables.
Pvt. Shawn A. Mitchell, movement specialist, 517th Movement Control Team, 25th TB, 19th ESC enjoyed his first experience as his crew’s gunner. Although it was his first time firing inside an Humvee, he shot all the targets.
“I enjoyed being a gunner, it was a learning experience,” said Mitchell. “Overall, teamwork is what motivated me to shoot all the targets in the range.”
When the results came out for the best Soldier with the highest score, Cpl. Jang Hae-june, a KATUSA [Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army] with the 665th Movement Control Team, 25th TB, 19th ESC, fired a perfect score during the gunnery exercise.
“This result encouraged me to be proud of myself as a military ambassador,” said Jang.
The 25th TB is one of the anchor points to the overall logistics mission of the 19th ESC and helps facilitates logistical support throughout the Republic of Korea, delivering mission flexibility.