FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 28, 2016) -- The 194th Armored Brigade held a privately owned weapons safety shoot Sept. 23 at Coursen Range to teach Soldiers, family members and Department of the Army civilians about weapons safety and the Maneuver Center of Excellence POW regulations.
"This is an opportunity to get our Soldiers and family members out, give them training on safe handling, transportation, hunting regulations and MCoE regulations as far as the governed POW use, storage and transportation on Fort Benning," said Capt. Greg White, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 194th Armored Brigade.
"The purpose of the program is to make sure all the military personnel, new and veteran to Fort Benning, know exactly what they have to do, programs that they have to enroll in to own and keep a firearm on post, and to of course shoot on this range," added Staff Sgt. Robert Harm, a marksmanship instructor with the 194th Armored Brigade.
"One of the things (attendees) get is some familiarity with the range," said Harm. "They learn that familiarity, they learn that they can rent firearms here, bring their own firearms here, plus they get to learn the policies and everything about the range. ... We also go through a safety handling procedure of the weapons on the range and at home, and storage for weapons at home."
"This is the opportunity that the 194th took to go ahead, step up to the plate and ... make sure our Soldiers and families are safe with their privately owned weapons," said White.
The 194th Armored Brigade holds the event semi-annually, and according to White, they plan for the event to grow each time.
"We also do a barbecue ... and try to make it a fun event for families to come out, get that training together and help reduce some of the risk that has been identified through the chain of command as far as POW storage in government quarters," White said.
Coursen Range is the Fort Benning Morale, Welfare and Recreation Recreational Shooting Complex featuring two trap and skeet ranges, a 50-yard handgun range, a 300-yard rifle range and a store with ammunition and supplies available for purchase. There are also a variety of firearms available for rent.
For more information about the Recreational Shooting Complex, visit http://www.benningmwr.com/recreational-shooting-complex/.
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