FORT LEONARD WOOD, Missouri -- Soldiers with the Fort Leonard Wood-based 5th Engineer Battalion recently traveled to Fort Riley, Kansas, to conduct crew weapon system proficiency training from May 26 through June 7.
Approximately 450 troops, spanning seven companies from the Fightin' Fifth, part of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, took part in the training, dubbed Operation Big Red One, for crews of Mounted Machine Gun, or MMG, weapons systems.
"The intent is to validate that our crews are technically competent and tactically proficient in the employment of their platform weapon system," said Lt. Col. Sebastian Joly, 5th Engr. Bn. commander. "The end state being to ensure we sustain the tactical skills that will allow us to maneuver effectively and survive on the battlefield."
With assistance from the 1st Inf. Div.'s master gunner Sgt. 1st Class James Price, 24 crews from the 55th Mobility Augmentation Company, 515th Engineer Company and 595th Engineer Company (Sapper) were certified.
Battalion leadership said the training proved invaluable, as a majority of the participating Soldiers had never fired a weapon system mounted to a M113 armored personnel carrier, and it was a majority of the Soldiers' first opportunity to conduct gunnery tasks.
Spc. Dakota Van Petten, a primary M2 gunner from the 55th MAC, said the hardest part of the training was engaging the moving target.
"At Fort Leonard Wood, we only have stationary targets and they are generally positioned in front of us, so the course was definitely challenging," Petten said.
Maj. Scott Snyder, the battalion's operations officer, said the training's focus centered on individual marksmanship, crew gunnery and platoon live fire.
Snyder said the marksmanship tested the Soldiers' ability to fire a weapon with precision and accuracy, the gunnery evaluated their knowledge, marksmanship and engagement techniques, and the live fire, which culminated the field training exercise, tested and evaluated their marksmanship and maneuverability.
"It was easier than I thought it would be, but still a lot of fun," said Spc. Bryan Stanton, a primary M2 gunner from the 515th Engr. Co., who scored 808 points and hit eight out of 10 targets on one of the tables. "Going through the course really helped me get an idea of my target acquisition skills. At Fort Leonard Wood, we only conduct blank iterations, so I never get that feedback."
Stanton said he was aiming to hit 10 of 10 on the next challenge and compete for "Top Gun," an award given to the crew who scores the highest and successfully engages the most targets. A Soldier can earn a maximum of 1,000 points and hit 10 targets. To qualify, they must earn 700 points and hit 7/10 targets with a required minimum of one night target.
Although Stanton fell short of Top Gun honors, three other troops from the battalion did earn them.
Staff Sgt. Russell Sander, Spc. Jared Hall and Pfc. Richard Schellhase, all from the 595th Engr. Co., achieved 998 points and successfully engaged 10 of 10 targets.
Battalion leadership praised the timing of the exercise and the ability to utilize the 1st Inf. Div.'s expertise prior to the upcoming Transfer of Responsibility and Authority from the 4th MEB to the Fort Hood, Texas-based 36th Engineer Brigade.
(Editor's note: Acojedo is the S3 operations officer for the 5th Engr. Bn.)
Social Sharing