Deployment training: Soldiers maintain proficiency in the midst of deployment

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan– The sound of rounds being chambered echoed across the field as Soldiers prepared to qualify with their weapons, April 26 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Despite being deployed 35 Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, donned their personal protective equipment to maintain their ability to hit 40 targets with 40 rounds.

“It is necessary to maintain the fundamental skills that all Soldiers are required to have,” said U.S. Army Capt. Robert Molard, executive officer of HHC, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon, and officer in charge of the range. “While Soldiers in HHC are not normally found off the (forward operating base) it is still necessary for them to have the confidence in themselves and their equipment to be able to accurately put rounds downrange if the need ever arises.”

Much like a range back in the states Soldiers zero their weapons prior to qualifying. To qualify, Soldiers are given two magazines of 10 rounds each and one magazine with 20 rounds. Unlike a range at Fort Stewart, Soldiers don’t shoot at pop-up targets but at paper targets with silhouettes of varying sizes simulating distance.

“This biggest issue we find running ranges is that due to the surge (of Soldiers coming into Bagram) and the need to first qualify incoming Soldiers we are subject to have our ranges cancelled with only eight hours notice, which has happened on several occasions,” said Molard, native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. “Also we are limited with ranges because unlike Hunter, where we can go down to Stewart to use their different ranges, we only have the one range here.”

In addition to maintaining their shooting skills, U.S Army Sgt. Freddie Conn, HHC, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon, and the range NCOIC said the range works to remind deployed Soldiers of the live ammunition they carry in their weapon daily.

“Soldiers have to be aware that they are walking around with live rounds,” said Conn from Shalimar, Fla. “On the range they are briefed ahead of time that they need to carry their weapons a certain way and to be aware of what other Soldiers are doing at all times. Safety is very important especially when training, each and every Soldier is important to the mission at hand. The safety habits practiced in training also crossover to good discipline outside the wire. Any accidental discharge could have catastrophic results from taking out one of your own team members to injuring civilians.”

Throughout the day Soldiers qualified with the M16A-2 rifles and M9 pistols finally closing down the range as the sun set and the rain fell.

“Being comfortable with your equipment is a vital part of being a Soldier,” said Schenectady, N.Y., native,  U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Richard Reilly, HHC, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon. “The more you shoot the more comfortable you will get and the better you will get. Just getting out and shooting is the best part of going to the range. It is a great break in the daily rut of the deployment.”