Editor’s note: This article ran in the Feb. 15, 2007, issue.
Story and photos by Rebecca E. Tonn
Mountaineer staff
Live-fire training was conducted Friday at Bessey Range 111 by the 360th Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Area Support Group, in preparation for its upcoming deployment to Iraq.
The weather was balmy as Soldiers, wearing Individual Battle Armor and Small Arms Protective Inserts, lined up to receive .50-caliber rounds for M-2 machine guns or 5.56 mm ammunition for M-16 rifles and M-249 squad automatic weapons.
Sgt. Leland Gilmore, noncommissioned officer in charge of ammunition, was on hand to ensure that each Soldier received the correct amount and the right kind of ammunition.
“We’ve got to keep the blank rounds separate from the live rounds. If a live round is fired through a weapon that has a blank adapter, the rifle can explode,” Gilmore said.
Staff Sgt. Douglas Dorn, NCOIC of the range, said the company is due to deploy mid-summer.
“Our main priority today is realistic training and safety,” Dorn said.
The convoy included M915 A3 tractors, some hooked up to M871 A2 trailers, and M1075 Palletized Load Systems with M-2s or SAWs mounted on top. Soldiers drove tactical vehicles on a 2.5 kilometer course, shooting live rounds at moving and timed targets en route.
A simulated improvised explosive device detonated, “disabling” an M915. Soldiers ran to hook up the tractor to the tractor in front of it, to tow it out of the kill zone. Three Soldiers carried a Soldier, “wounded” in the same blast, on a litter to a waiting helicopter.
After the first live-fire run, Staff Sgt. Shad McCrary held an after action review, stressing that Soldiers must be aware of muzzle direction and listen to communications from command headquarters.
“Never get complacent out there,” McCrary said.
Later that day, 1st Platoon Leader, 2nd Lt. Matthew Brown said the unit’s training was realistic.
“It directly correlates with our wartime mission — line hauling fuel and other materials,” Brown said.
Deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom 1 and 3, Staff Sgt. Anthony Williams, 3rd Platoon sergeant, said that the unit’s training is effective.
“It’s good to train with live fire under stressful conditions so Soldiers know what to do and when and how to do it. We’ve got a great platoon and commander and 1st Sgt. (Josie) Jahnke is splendid,” Williams said.
Staff Sgt. Timothy Wolff conducted an AAR after the second round of live-fire training.
“We have all these different people coming together and we have to learn to be one — to know what the other is thinking. This training builds confidence — when we’re deployed, you’ll have to trust the Soldier next to you with your life,” Wolff said.
After completing two live-fire training runs, Soldiers from the 360th donned night-vision goggles and adjusted them. Then they drove the course in the dark, without headlights, adapting to driving, maneuvering and firing while wearing night vision goggles.
Commander of the 360th, Capt. Leuila Alaimaleata, better known as “Captain Al,” said that overall the training was outstanding.
“I feel comfortable that they are ready to do a gun-truck mission in support of the war fighters,” Alaimaleata said.
Veteran of two deployments to Iraq, Sgt. Dan Kress said that training is about waking up and realizing this is for real.
“Some of these people have been working in offices — they haven’t been in the field before. They need to realize the insurgents are getting smarter at hiding IEDs. In Iraq, you drive the same stretch of road and you start to memorize what the piles of rocks look like — so if the rocks are moved you know there’s an IED hidden.
“Seasoned drivers can drive for 500 miles without a break. You’re wearing body armor and Kevlar, you’re sweating in the 130 degree heat — so you have to stay alert, stay awake and stay hydrated. Keep your eyes open.
“The main thing is — don’t take this lightly,” Kress said.