Spc. Brian Torres, left, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, sets the elevation on an 81 mm mortar system as Pfc. Bryce Marcille, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, monitors during range training on Fort Carson Jan. 25, 2018. Several 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., Soldiers conducted range qualification training in preparation for the “Warhorse” Brigade’s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. (Photo by Spc. Connor Owens)
By 1st Lt. Kevin Roake,
2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — In preparation for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conducted training at several ranges on Fort Carson Jan. 25, 2018.
The training, which required gun crews to sharpen their individual Soldier skills and work together to identify and destroy enemy targets, included overnight gunnery training and mortar training which are both critical to sustaining the combat readiness of the “Lethal” Battalion.
“We gained confidence in our ability to engage and destroy targets from a mounted platform at varying distances,” said Capt. Austin Caroe, commander, Company B. “These skills will be instrumental to … success on deployment and will increase the battalion’s overall lethality.”
Soldiers qualified with open 240B and .50 caliber machine guns mounted on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Additionally, Soldiers qualified on the MK19 automatic grenade launcher which used the Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS) to increase range and accuracy.
“The CROWS can focus in, lase a target, assume how far the target is, and hit it consistently,” said Spc. Jonathan Foster, Company B.
Spc. Byron Deacon, left, and Spc. Justin Foster, both with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, load 7.62 mm linked ammunition into a 240B machine gun in preparation for range training on Fort Carson Jan. 25, 2018. (Photo by Capt. Austin Caroe)
Foster, who consistently engaged targets within 10 seconds with five- to six-round bursts from his .50 caliber machine gun, is already known as one of his company’s top shots. The training range was his first opportunity to train on the CROWS at a gunnery qualification range.
While Company B was conducting gunnery, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg.’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company Mortar Platoon conducted Mortar Training and Evaluation Program (MORTEP), which consisted of training on 60 mm, 81 mm, and 120 mm mortar systems.
“The purpose of MORTEP is to train proficiency at the full slate of indirect fire missions that infantry mortar missions can perform in support of combined arms combat operations,” said 1st Lt. Forbis Turner, Headquarters and Headquarters Company mortar platoon leader.
During the range, fire support officers are evaluated on their ability to observe an objective and adjust their fires in order to direct mortar crews onto their targets. The range is the last time the Soldiers will get to perfect their skills prior to deployment.
The battalion will continue to train and prepare for the upcoming deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. These last exercises will ensure the unit is ready to support in any capacity necessary.