YUMA PROVING GROUND, Ariz.-- From tanks and armored vehicles in the invasion of Iraq to fortified insurgent bunkers in Afghanistan, America's adversaries have feared the deadly power of the FGM-148 Javelin missile for over two decades.
First fielded in 1996, the self-guided Javelin projectile allows Soldiers to seek cover as soon as they have fired it. Further, the missile can be fired in two modes: direct attack or top attack, the latter of which not only takes advantage of a tank's sparser armor on top, but can be handy against elevated positions in high mountains.
The Javelin packs a humungous punch, and Soldiers in the Arizona National Guard's 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry, trained on the weapon at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) on a sweltering weekend in mid-August.
"I firmly believe that the only place this unit can exercise all of their organic weapons systems is on Yuma Proving Ground," said Luis Arroyo, chief of the Training and Exercise Management Office. "They can do individual and some collective training at other places in the state, but in order to execute full collective training for what is generally required for infantry companies and battalions, this is the only place in Arizona."
"Any time we can do one-stop shopping, it benefits us," added Sgt. Maj. Daniel Figueroa of the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry. "Being able to do all the training we need to accomplish benefits us in time, money, and Soldier training."
A Javelin operator needs to use a Command Launch Unit (CLU) attached to the Javelin tube to sight and launch the missile. There is a whoosh as the missile ejects from the launcher. About 20 feet out, a propulsive burning sound starts as the flight motor engages, and rapidly accelerates the missile to the target hundreds of feet downrange. Smoke and flame blooms from the tank target before the sound of the explosion rumbles back to the firing line.
"They compared the kick to a 12 gauge shotgun, but I think it was lighter," said Pfc. Matthew Shirley. "You pull the trigger, you feel a little kick, and then it's nice after that. It's a rush watching your target explode."
The Soldiers enjoyed the fact that three disused tanks without any discernible damage were included in the target array set up downrange from the firing line. Placing the tanks took careful work from a variety of YPG support elements, from the Ammunition Recovery group that ensured paths to the target emplacement sites were cleared of all unexploded ordnance to the Threat Target Systems section which removed engines and other potentially hazardous materials from the tanks prior to their being towed into place across rugged, road-less terrain by YPG's motor pool.
"Knowing this was the first time the unit has fired the Javelin, I think the right thing was to give them something meaty, something that is visually representative versus something that has been shot up," said Arroyo. "When these gunners looked through their reticles at the target, they actually saw a tank, not a burned-out hulk of what used to be a tank. This was well worth the effort, both so they could get the most benefit out of the training and to enhance the target range."
Though YPG's primary mission is testing military equipment, its vast ranges accommodate dozens of training events each year.
"Protecting the test mission is the top priority of our office," said Arroyo. "Both missions can coexist smoothly: it's just a matter of coordination with the customer and test officers. Twice a year we host a Marine Corps infantry battalion conducting a fast-paced, very large scope training exercise, without impacting the test mission: we could do it more often."
The Soldiers were impressed with the facility and support from all levels of YPG.
"We love it out here," said Lt. Col. David Pidone, battalion commander. "The facility is great and the leadership is extraordinarily responsive. This is the stuff Soldiers join the Army for: to have the opportunity to come out here and train as close to our headquarters as we are is awesome. We hope to do a lot more of it."
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