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Saber training prepares 8th Marines for deployment

US Marine Corps News

9/29/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew, 2nd Marine Division

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — The Sun dipped down behind the tree line of Range OP2, here, igniting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and red. As twilight set in, the nocturnal warriors of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment continued to work into the night hours, constantly striving to improve their knowledge of the different weapons systems they employ. With unending endurance, they rode humvee’s to the top of the range to look out over the vast blast area, eager to test their knowledge of the M41A1 Saber System.

Marines like Pfc. Brian A. McDaniels and the other anti-tank guided-missile men of Weapons Company have trained long and hard for the opportunity to fire their first TOW (tube launched, optically tracked, wire guided) missile from the Saber System. Tomorrow they will get their chance.

Late to bed yet early to rise, the Marines awoke quickly rising under the blanket of night. With only moonlight to see by, they shook the cold from their limbs, packed their gear, and as the sun began to rise they made their way to range OP4 where the TOW missiles would be fired.

As they readied themselves for the exercise, excitement ran deep among each Marine chosen to fire one of the 12 missiles.

“I was really excited, believe it or not I’ve been an (anti-tank guided missile man) for three and a half years and I’ve never gotten to shoot a TOW missile,” said Cpl. Ryan M. Skibenez, a Team leader with the company. “We have to wait until these large training operations, like pre-deployment training at Fort A.P. Hill and even then we have a limited amount of rounds.”

The hour drew near and, taking every safety precaution, the Marines loaded their vehicles and rode to the firing area, two humvee’s at a time.

With a boom that shook the surrounding area, the missiles fired one after another screeching through the sky at 300 meters a second destined to destroy their target. Clouds of smoke erupted around the steel target, rising into the sky as a testament to the destructive capabilities of the TOW missile.

“At first, I was a little bit nervous,” said McDaniels. “You come out of the School of Infantry never having shot one. You have an $8,000 missile sitting right beside your head and all you can think is, don’t miss.”

Once all of the missiles had been fired and the smoke cleared. The Marines took a moment to reflect on the success of the Saber shoot.

“You practice it so much every day it just becomes second nature,” said McDaniels. “When you pull the trigger it kicks you. I moved a little bit and the missile followed the crosshairs, so I just moved it right back to the target and now I can’t wipe the smile off my face, I love it.”