USS Mitscher Conducts Underway Weapons Qualifications
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS110208-27
2/8/2011
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Deven B. King, USS Mitscher Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) participated in a handgun practical weapons course while at sea Feb. 1.
"The anti-terrorism force protection requirements have become a lot stricter," said Chief Gunner's Mate (SW) Rick Randle. "There are probably a dozen different wickets you have to go through to be able to carry a weapon."
Sailors set up a gun range on the flight deck of Mitscher with skill stations they constructed themselves.
"We built everything right on board," said Randle, who helped build the course and ran the qualification. "A couple guys had brought their tools from home and we cranked it out during our last underway period."
Prior to beginning the course of fire, the Sailors ran in place to elevate their heart rates.
"We run them for two minutes to get their heart rate up and get their blood pumping," said Randle. "Then we put them through the course of fire."
The course of fire consisted of five firing position stations - standing, prone, shooting through a constructed window, kneeling and close-range standing. The Sailors had to engage the targets at each station in a specific sequence called out by Randle.
Conducting weapons qualifications while out to sea gave Mitscher Sailors an opportunity to train and fire in an environment different from when qualifying in port.
"It's challenging to shoot underway while the ship is moving," said Quartermaster Seaman John Kaspala. "But it's a lot of fun."
Weapons qualifications are a key part of mission readiness.
"Having our own range on the flight deck gives us some flexibility," Randle said. "So when we're not in port and we can't go to the installations at Camp Allen or Little Creek, we can sustain our qualifications."
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