Estonian joins US troops, shoots big guns

By Sgt. Juana NesbittSeptember 1, 2015

Estonian joins US troops, shoots big guns
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Estonian Defense Force Soldiers get some hands-on training on the M2 .50-caliber machine gun at Tapa Army Base Aug. 27, in preparation of an upcoming combined live-fire range. The training was a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve an ongoing series of... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Estonian joins US troops, shoots big guns
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Victor Ostos, of Las Cruces, N.M., an infantryman with Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and his two Estonian counterparts wait for the command "Go" during the combined MK19 grenade launcher and M2 ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Estonian joins US troops, shoots big guns
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Magnus Nirk, of Voru, Estonia, a Soldier in the Estonian Defense Force's Scout Battalion practices the target acquisition skills he learned during the combined MK19 grenade launcher and M2 .50-caliber machine gun preliminary marksmanship class A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Estonian join US troops, shoot big guns
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the Estonian Defense Force practice assembling an M2 .50-caliber machine gun during a combined preliminary marksmanship class Aug. 27, at Tapa Army Base. The training was part of Operation Atlantic Resolve an ongoing series of training ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Estonian join US troops, shoot big guns
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Grant Burris, of Valrico, Fla., an infantryman with Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade goes over the assembly of an M2 .50-caliber machine gun during a combined preliminary marksmanship class Aug. 27... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Estonian join US troops, shoot big guns
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Kert Klavin, of Tallinn, Estonia, a Soldier in the Estonian Defense Force's Kalev Infantry Battalion gathers his ammo for the MK19 grenade launcher before his turn to shoot Aug. 30, during a combined live-fire range at the Central Training Area ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Estonian join US troops, shoot big guns
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Kert Klavin, of Tallinn, Estonia, a Soldier in the Estonian Defense Force's Kalev Infantry Battalion identifies his target during a combined live-fire range Aug. 30 at the Central Training Area near Tapa, Estonia. As a part of Operation Atlantic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Estonia - Amidst the flashes of lightening and rumble of thunder from the skies above, U.S. and Estonian Soldiers answered back with a rumble of their own during a live-fire range Aug. 30, at the Central Training Area near Tapa, Estonia.

"Today we are conducting a live-fire range with the MK19 grenade launcher, M2 .50-caliber machine gun and the BGM-71 TOW antitank missile with some of the Estonian Scout Battalion's Soldiers," said 1st Lt. Joseph Hathcock, of Merritt Island, Florida, commander of Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

The range was a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing series of training events and exercises designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the United States and its NATO allies.

For Hathcock, this type of training "is an important step in ensuring our NATO alliance and making sure we are prepared for anything in the future," he said. "It also allows us to share some of our tactics and techniques while getting to know one another."

Before the range, Estonian Defense Force Soldiers joined their U.S. counterparts in the preliminary marksmanship training conducted earlier that week.

"This is a really good experience," said 2nd Lt. Hannes Reinup, of Tallinn, Estonia, a platoon leader with the Estonian Defense Force's Scouts Battalion. "We don't have these kinds of weapons systems in our armory, so it's a really new experience for our Soldiers."

During the classroom and practical instruction however, Reinup, noticed something a little different.

"U.S. Army instructors are more friendly and help the Soldiers feel comfortable while learning, Estonian instructors [on the other hand] are much more strict," said Reinup. "It is something we can probably adopt from these guys."

Hathcock and Reinup agreed that the mere experience of training together strengthens the alliance between the United States and Estonia.

"[Through this training], we get to know one another in the process, thus enabling us to have greater interoperability in the future," said Hathcock.