FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Basic trainees seeking to become Infantrymen focused on hand grenade training, June 9, at the Malone Complex on Fort Benning.
During the six-hour course, trainees were briefed on hand grenade operation, how to hold a hand grenade, how to correctly throw a hand grenade and how to kneel after one is thrown.
The training began with a safety briefing in the morning at mock bay before their grenade assessment phase at live bay.
"The mock bay brief exists to give Soldiers more practice throws with their grenade before going to live bay," said Sgt. 1st Class James Scates Jr., noncommissioned officer in charge of Malone 1 hand grenades.
The event is a graduation requirement for basic combat training. Over a period of 14 weeks, trainees acquire tactical and survival skills that can be used during future missions and exercises.
Recruits used two M67 grenades to correctly and accurately throw in designated lanes.
"The objective is to have a grenade land at least 35 meters away from you," stated Scates.
A collective 196 Soldiers trained with hand grenades at the complex. Soldiers who did not execute their throws correctly will recycle to another company for another opportunity to graduate.
"It's a confidence booster," said Staff Sgt. David McPeak, instructor at Malone 1.
"To have a live grenade in your hand, to some people, is a scary event. It's an explosive. Your life depends on whether or not you know how to properly arm and properly hold that hand grenade. It's a big confidence booster."
Scates reflected on his experience with hand grenades.
"I used hand grenades when I was in Afghanistan. We used them in doorways where we knew improvised explosive devices were. For the Taliban or al-Qaida, implementing IEDs was their way of fighting us. Grenades can also be used within ambushes so that you can quickly maneuver through enemies."
After trainees have completed their BCT, they will go back to their units to receive further orders.
Social Sharing