Soldiers take training beyond simulator

By Sgt. Nelson Robles

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, increased their knowledge and confidence in the Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile system at a qualification range Aug. 11-13, 2015.

The TOW range allowed the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Soldiers to take what is usually only experienced in training simulators into the training grounds of Fort Carson, performing day and night fire missions.

“The first day was a dry-fire to make sure the crews were validated on the fire commands required,” said 2nd Lt. Nicholas Shearin, officer in charge of the TOW range, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg. “Now we’re engaging daytime and nighttime targets, making sure the crews properly execute the fire commands and engage the target in a timely fashion.”

The TOW missile system can be a valuable asset for this heavy-weapons company.

“This missile (system’s) primary mission is anti-armor, although we can also use it on vehicles and structures if needed,” said Capt. Jason Fish, commander, Company D, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg. “It’s fired from the same system mounted on Apache helicopters in terms of visibility and laser range finding capabilities.”

Although the simulations helped prepare the Soldiers, nothing replaces real experience.

“These guys have only done simulations for the TOWs, so they know the system but have not actually fired one,” said Shearin. “Now, if they have to use this downrange, they will know exactly what’s going to happen and how to adjust and track a target so they are not surprised, and bury the missile.”

Pvt. Raymond Salaz, infantryman, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg., the first Soldier from the battalion to fire the TOW, said it was an amazing experience that he will never forget.

“When you pull the trigger nothing happens for three seconds as it prepares to fire,” said Salaz. “You try to count it off in your head. When it fires, it hits you and makes you lose your breath for a second, but you have to focus to keep the missile on target (since it is optically tracked),” said Salaz.

Fish said each exercise makes the battalion more capable.

“I want my Soldiers to get the knowledge, repetition and muscle memory from the drills the crew has to do to operate the system,” he said. “I want the Soldiers to gain confidence through their training, instead of only being able to do the computer simulators and just talking about it, they get to see it and fire it firsthand.”