Range operations enhance mission readiness

By 1st Lt. Connor CoombesSeptember 5, 2019

Range operations enhance mission readiness
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Desrine Metansingh, senior enlisted advisor, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, fires her M4 rifle from the kneeling position during a rifle qualification at the Grafenwoehr Train... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Range operations enhance mission readiness
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the Regimental Support Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment fires her M4 rifle during a group and zero range at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Grafenwoehr, Germany, August 23, 2019. Range density encompassed training on si... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Soldiers of the Regimental Support Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, spent a considerable portion of the month of August at the range, as the regiment itself has stepped up preparations for the upcoming training exercise, Dragoon Ready 20.

Following a successful motor pool reorganization in July, and vehicle services rodeo earlier in the month, the RSS, 2CR shifted its focus toward ensuring squadron-wide proficiency at individual events. While this effort includes a myriad of training events from physical fitness tests to equal opportunity training, the primary concern has been on each Soldier's competency with his or her assigned weapons system.

In the six weeks leading up to Dragoon Ready 20, the squadron has four separate M4 rifle range qualifications, as well as two for the M2 machine gun, and one each for the MK19 grenade launcher, M240B light machine gun and M9 pistol scheduled.

"Range density is a critical training event for preparing our Soldiers for combat," said Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Jackson, senior enlisted advisor, RSS, 2CR. "Training our Soldiers on all of their assigned weapons systems is one way we make sure that we're 'Always Ready,' just as our regimental motto claims."

Though its headquarters is traditionally positioned in the rear of the regimental battlespace, the RSS, 2CR still faces considerable threat from enemy heavy armor. As such, AT-4 training is also on the squadron's calendar - with familiarization taking place this month and leading into a live-fire qualification in September.

"Building our Soldiers' competence on their weapons is also building the blocks of a winning formation and we don't plan on going to Dragoon Ready to lose," said Capt. Nickolas Cline, plans officer, RSS, 2CR.

Dragoon Ready 20 is the regiment's multinational combat training center rotation at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany and is scheduled to take place this fall.