Combined Arms Training Center hosts training for Czech Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan

By Sgt. Kenneth D. ReedMarch 3, 2016

Weapons Familiarization Course
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 25 Czech soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Division in Chrudim, Czech Republic, completed the Weapons Familiarization Course, Feb. 25, 2016 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The Combined Arms Training Center, also known as CATC, hosted this course tailored spec... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Weapons Familiarization Course
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 25 Czech soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Division in Chrudim, Czech Republic, completed the Weapons Familiarization Course, Feb. 25, 2016 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The Combined Arms Training Center, also known as CATC, hosted this course tailored spec... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Weapons Familiarization Course
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 25 Czech soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Division in Chrudim, Czech Republic, completed the Weapons Familiarization Course, Feb. 25, 2016 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The Combined Arms Training Center, also known as CATC, hosted this course tailored spec... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Weapons Familiarization Course
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 25 Czech soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Division in Chrudim, Czech Republic, completed the Weapons Familiarization Course, Feb. 25, 2016 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The Combined Arms Training Center, also known as CATC, hosted this course tailored spec... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Weapons Familiarization Course
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 25 Czech soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Division in Chrudim, Czech Republic, completed the Weapons Familiarization Course, Feb. 25, 2016 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The Combined Arms Training Center, also known as CATC, hosted this course tailored spec... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- 25 Czech soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Division in Chrudim, Czech Republic, completed the Weapons Familiarization Course, Feb. 25, 2016, here.

The Combined Arms Training Center, also known as CATC, hosted this course tailored specifically to cover operating the M2 .50 caliber machine gun in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

"The resources you have here are great and the instructors are very knowledgeable," said Master Sgt. Lukas Hergott, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance specialist with the 43rd AD. "We have enjoyed the training in the classrooms, the ranges and working with the instructors."

During the course, instructors taught assembly and disassembly, loading and clearing, and head spacing and timing among other things.

Soldier with MOSs ranging from infantry and mortars to gunners and instructors all participated in this course as the last required training before their deployment in late March.

Prior to this course, these soldiers also completed drivers training through CATC for the Maxx Pro and MRAP, the primary vehicles they will use during their deployment.

"Although Soldiers from other nations may come to our course to learn our way of doing things, by communicating with them and learning how they operate, we, as instructors, learn different ways to get the desired outcome," said Bobby Crane, CATC instructor.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Europe

7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command

Combined Arms Training Center