Black Jack troop hosts gunnery

By Sgt. Quentin Johnson, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.October 5, 2010

FORT HOOD, Texas- Soldiers from B Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, view the engagement zone to gain an understanding of the tasks they will undertake during the regiment's Light-Cavalry Gunnery...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas- Soldiers from B Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, view the engagement zone to gain an understanding of the tasks they will undertake during the regiment's Light-Cavalry Gunnery... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT HOOD, Texas- Sgt. Adam Schakel, an Oskaloosa, Iowa native and cavalry scout with B Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, loads MK-19 chalk rounds into an ammo case in preparation for his qualif...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas- Sgt. Adam Schakel, an Oskaloosa, Iowa native and cavalry scout with B Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, loads MK-19 chalk rounds into an ammo case in preparation for his qualif... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas- Gunnery is usually performed by squads, platoons or companies as a single effort, but one battalion made it unique with its joint efforts and training tactics.

Soldiers from B Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, hosted a Table VI, Light-Cavalry Gunnery range, here, Oct. 1.

The gunnery exercise allowed 22 crews, including eight from another unit, to qualify as a crew using different techniques such as; engaging targets, crew coordination, weapons tactics and communications, said Capt. Jonah Martin, a Bay Village, Ohio native and commander for B Troop.

The eight other crews were made up of military policemen from the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div.

The gunnery afforded the MP's realistic training and cross training they normally wouldn't get to perform, said Sgt. 1st Class Gwendolyn Brown, a military policeman from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BSTB.

"We've learned the .50 Cal, M-240B ... maneuvering, engaging targets as far as the terrain goes," said Brown.

Pfc. Jose Lopez, a Houston, Texas native and a military policeman with HHC, 2nd BSTB said gunnery was a new experience that gave him confidence in his job and how he will perform overseas.

The MP's were not the only ones gaining new experience.

Sgt. Adam Schakel, an Oskaloosa, Iowa native and cavalry scout with B Troop, said this was the first time he performed a live fire with the MK-19 grenade launcher.

Overall, the gunnery was a success, said Martin.

"I'm very impressed with my crews and the MP's have made great strides," said Martin.

It was a great learning experience and each unit improved greatly, he said.

The troop is scheduled to take part in gunnery again early next year.