FORT CARSON, Colo. — A vehicle crew from 32nd Composite Truck Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, engages targets while moving Oct. 13, 2020, during sustainment gunnery at Range 109 on Fort Carson. The 14 crews were qualifying with the Browning .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the All-Terrain Vehicle, during both day and night fires. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
By Sgt. James Geelen
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — The “Reapers” of 4th Platoon, 32nd Composite Truck Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, conducted sustainment crew gunnery earlier this month on Fort Carson.
The Soldiers conducted Gunnery Qualification Tables III through VI to ensure full unit qualification for the companies’ upcoming missions. Gunnery is a crucial training event, as it verifies the lethality and effectiveness of a unit’s vehicle crews.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. David Ortiz, a motor transport operator, 32nd Composite Truck Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, reloads the Browning .50 caliber machine gun Oct. 13, 2020, during sustainment crew gunnery on Fort Carson. As part of the qualification, Ortiz had to engage targets ranging from as close as 350 meters, to as far out as nearly 1,200 meters. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
“We’ve put these Soldiers through approximately six months of extensive training to get them ready to get out to the range and shoot,” said Staff Sgt. Andrew Jones, platoon sergeant, 32nd CTC, 68th CSSB, 4th SB. “The training started with learning to identify friendly and enemy vehicles in both daylight and nighttime conditions. We conducted multiple weapons familiarization classes, crew-served weapons ranges, ammunition identification classes and drivers’ training courses, as well.”
Each of the crews qualified with the Browning .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the All-Terrain Vehicle, during both day and night fires.
“We would like to have all our vehicle crews qualified on .50 caliber machine gun by the end of this training,” Jones said. “Our platoon will be conducting another gunnery early next year that will focus on the, (Mark 19 grenade launcher). By executing the training this way, we can maximize the amount of time the crews spend training on each weapon system.”
Gunnery involves more than just the conduct of fire, target acquisition and proficiency levels.
“Our training is an evaluation of how well each crew works together,” said 1st Lt. Jeno Bourne, platoon leader, 32nd CTC, 68th CSSB, 4th SB. “Every crew must perform a down gunner drill, which puts the truck commander (TC), in the gunner’s hatch firing at targets. The TC must give the proper commands in order for the gunner to be able to identify and shoot the right targets. This training is the first step towards convoy live fire training.”
The Soldiers also had to contend with Mother Nature during their training.
“We lost a day of training due to some very high winds, that was changing the trajectory of the rounds and making it too dangerous to train,” Jones said. “However the big distraction has been the Wild Horse Fire. We had to present range control with an evacuation plan, because we could see the flames on top of the ridgeline. Not to mention, the smoke from the fire was blowing onto the range and affected our ability to use thermals for nighttime qualifying.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A vehicle crew from 32nd Composite Truck Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, engages targets Oct. 13, 2020, during sustainment gunnery at Range 109 on Fort Carson. The 14 crews were qualifying with the Browning .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the Oshkosh All-Terrain Vehicle, M-ATV, during both day and night fires. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)