Soldiers from the West Point Warrior Transition Unit and FBI agents traded shots in a day of firearms familiarization and fun at Range 3 April 16.
The warriors-in-transition event was sponsored by West Point Range Control working in partnership with the FBI Firearms Training Unit-West Point, who donated their time and service to conduct the familiarization classes as well as a range competition and barbecue to lift Soldiers' spirits and morale.
"It's an honor for us to give back to them what they've given to us," Special Agent Timothy Latterner, of the FTU-WP, said. "It's the least we can do for them."
Following a safety brief and classes on current FBI weapons systems, Soldiers took turns shooting the Glock 17 9 mm pistol and HK MP5 9 mm submachine gun.
The range was a good opportunity for some of the Soldiers to become reacquainted with firearms after being injured in combat while serving either in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sergeant Kevin Harvie, a military police officer and supply sergeant with the 772nd Military Police Company of the Massachusetts National Guard, has been with the West Point WTU for only two weeks.
The week before his arrival, he was injured at Forward Operating Base Delta in Iraq. Layers of medical dressing around his left hand left it completely immobilized during the range.
Still, Harvie was able to handle the weapons and enjoy himself.
"It's actually been a lot easier (handling the weapons) than expected," the Boston native said. "It's actually caused me to miss having fun doing my job as a Soldier."
The Soldiers were presented with FBI hats and T-shirts.
Everyone at the range enjoyed the day's events made possible by the efforts of Range Control and the FTU.
"They're volunteering their time to put on this training and have some fun with us," Harvie explained. "It's been awesome. It gets us back into being a Soldier."
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