ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- On Feb. 13, seven Anniston Army Depot employees visited Fort Benning, Ga., at the invitation of the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capabilities Manager-Stryker, Col. Elmer Speights Jr.
After a grueling three hour ride, we had lunch with the Stryker team and were presented a capabilities briefing showing engineering change proposals for upgrades and what the future holds for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Then, the fun began.
Following the briefing, we viewed a live-fire exercise consisting of Stryker Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Bradley Fighting Vehicles on Red Cloud Range.
The Soldiers were absolutely awesome. They showed their professionalism in every aspect during the presentation of individual weapon capabilities.
At the start of the live-fire, Stryker vehicles maneuvered in front of the stands firing M2 machine guns in a flurry of tracers into target vehicles about a mile down range.
Shortly afterward, Bradley Fighting Vehicles traversed the same terrain, firing their 25 mm. chain guns and M2 machine guns simultaneously downrange at the same targets.
As the vehicle ramps dropped, approximately 20 Soldiers flowed out, taking position and firing at enemy targets in synchronization with the Stryker and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
There were so many rounds fired that the range caught fire. The smoke only added to the intense realism of the event and the Soldiers kept firing.
Afterward, the Maneuver Center of Excellence Commandant, Col. David Haight talked to the ANAD and General Dynamics Land System employees, expressing his thanks for ANAD's support of Soldiers and for the outstanding equipment we provide.
After the live-fire exercise, employees were given the chance to talk and interact with the Soldiers who operate the Strykers.
All the Soldiers were combat veterans and spoke of their experiences with the Stryker vehicle -- both the good aspects and changes they would like to see.
This was a great opportunity for our employees to interact and see the vehicle we manufacture and reset in operation. Everyone had a great time and recommended the depot plan future trips to see equipment in action.
When all was done, Speights' also thanked the ANAD team for what we do on a daily basis. Speights' team is planning another event and we hope this becomes a long-lasting relationship which will give more employees the opportunity to see Stryker vehicles in action and meet the Soldiers who operate them.
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