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USAMU shooters return from training
Soldiers in Iraq
By Paula Randall Pagan
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 Staff Sgt. Aaron L. Hampton checks out the firing position of a 1st Armored Division Soldier in Iraq. Hampton was one of five U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Soldiers who recently returned from a month of "Train the Trainer" instruction to 1st AD Soldiers between January and February.
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FORT BENNING, Ga. (Army News Service, March 3, 2004) -- Deployed 1st Armored Division Soldiers just got some marksmanship help from expert sharpshooters.
Five U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shooters provided an introduction to close quarters battle marksmanship course at six of the division's forward operating bases throughout Iraq.
USAMU's Sgts. 1st Class Charles E. Gibbs and Roger C. Jacobson, Staff Sgts. Aaron L. Hampton and Thomas A Rose and Spc. Sean P. Watson left Fort Benning, Ga., Jan. 14 on their way to Baghdad and returned to Fort Benning Feb. 20.
The nine three-day Train the Trainer marksmanship classes were given to 250 1st AD Soldiers. The instruction consisted of two 10-hour days and one 14-hour day of training, including a night fire. The students got five hours of classroom instruction followed by 24 hours of hands-on training on the range. Training included instruction on the M-4 Carbine, M-16A2 and M-16A4 rifles, the M-9 pistol, the M-240B machine gun and the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon.
"The training went amazingly well," Hampton said. "We have been overwhelmed by the response to the instruction. We were surprised at how receptive the Soldiers were to the training. High performance shooting in urban environments is outside the box; we expected some resistance.
"The Soldiers commented positively on all aspects of the training," Hampton continued. "They felt the most beneficial aspect of the training was the night fire and the vehicle live fire. All Soldiers were excited about the shooting while moving and commented that the ballistics test greatly increased their understanding of the capabilities of their weapon system."
Hampton added that the USAMU marksmen also experienced some hostile action while in Iraq.
"We encountered three roadside IEDs (improvised explosive devices), two mortar attacks and two rocket attacks," Hampton said. "The closest was a 127-mm rocket that exploded 37 meters from our tent."
The Service Pistol shooters commented that the 1st AD troops were not the only Soldiers who learned something from the training.
"We increased our ability to train effectively," Hampton said. "We learned a lot about the current situation, threats and current operational countermeasures. This has helped us update our course and training program. This was great training for both us and the 1st AD Soldiers. It would be great if we get a chance to go back to train 1st Cavalry Division once they get settled."
Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of Fort Knox, Ky., which is under U.S. Army Accessions Command, of Fort Monroe, Va. Accessions Command is charged with overseeing recruiting and training of the Army's enlisted Soldiers and officers.
USAMU trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through Train the Trainer clinics, research and development. The world-class Soldier-athletes of the USAMU also promote the Army and assist recruiters in attracting young Americans to enlist in the Army. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, visit http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/amu/.
(Editor’s note: Paula Randall Pagán is the USAMU public affairs officer.) |
