FORT HOOD, Texas - Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, participated in a machine gun range, at the Trapnal Range, May 18.
"This was the first range we have attended since our return from Iraq," said Raeford, N.C. native, Capt. Michael Liscano, the commander of Troop C, 1st Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt. "We may be back home, but it is still important to ensure our weapons are mission ready."
The squadron implemented the range training to refresh "seasoned" Soldiers, or those who have been deployed, and to allow new Soldiers experience on firing the M240B. The M240B is a machine gun that fires a 7.62 mm bullet and can be mounted on vehicles or hand carried.
"While we were in Iraq it was important to make sure that not only our weapons, but we as Soldiers were able to protect our battle buddies," said Jacksonville, Fla., native, Spc. Aaron Falk, a scout assigned to Troop A, 1st Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt. "Now that we are home, we have to be able to keep these skills for our next deployment."
The day began with test firing; test firing is a process where the machine gun is fired towards paper targets to guarantee that it will fire.
After the test fire, Soldiers formed up to conduct familirization and qualification of their ability to fire the weapon.
"All the weapons were in working order," Liscano said about the day's success, "and every Soldier left qualified on the M240B."
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