FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 9, 2015) -- Tasks learned by Soldiers of D Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, in basic combat training are meant to build Soldiers' confidence in themselves, but there are tasks that need to be learned so the Soldiers have confidence in each other.

At the Malone 1 hand grenade range, Pvt. Gerardo Garcia from San Antonio, Texas, said he wanted to know the guy in the pit next to him wasn't going to be the cause of his death.

"The fact that we throw actual live bombs makes it pretty nerve-wracking," Garcia said. "Most people don't know how to do it, and we'll be in there with them."

At the hand grenade range, Soldiers learn about grenades.

" ... It is good that they throw a live hand grenade; for every Soldier, it is getting over the fear of holding something that can kill you," said Sgt. 1st Class Chad Emerson, 316th Cavalry Brigade instructor.

In the mock bay, basic combat trainees are taught steps to "sweep, twist, pull, strike a pose, throw, remain standing to the count of one-thousand one, and drop to the knee." They enter the pit chanting "right hand" or "left hand" so the instructor knows what side to have them on. They perform the steps and then listen to the criticism from the instructor or drill sergeant.

"Don't hesitate!" Emerson emphasized when a student didn't immediately throw a grenade when told to do so.

From the mock bay where they learned how to handle and throw a grenade all in preparation, they move to the live bay where they handle a live grenade, throw it approximately 35 meters or more and see the effects.

"I've never done anything like this before, so it is a great experience to learn," Garcia said.

He gained confidence through the repetition of the task and getting comfortable with the motions becoming muscle memory.

The grenade task is a graduation requirement, said D Co. 1st Sgt. Jeremie Dick. Soldiers who get a no-go will have an opportunity to qualify with another company before they are recycled due to their failure to accomplish the task.

One trainee who excelled told a drill sergeant he played football, basketball and ran track in high school, while another trainee who initially failed the task said he had never thrown a ball before.

Editor's note: This is part of a basic combat training series in the Bayonet and Saber. Read our paper over the next four weeks for more stories in the series.