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Marines improve crew-served capabilities

US Marine Corps News

7/29/2011
By Lance Cpl. Mark W. Stroud, Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan -- Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 trained with the Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon at Range 10 here July 20, firing both training and high-explosive rockets.

The MWSS-172 Marines, part of Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, were staying at a bivouac site near the range July 18-22 and conducting crew-served weapons training on several of the Marine Corps’ weapons systems including the M249 squad automatic weapons, M240B medium machine guns, MK19 grenade launchers and SMAWs.

Combat engineers, utilities specialists, motor transport operators, heavy-equipment operators and armorers from the squadron conducted the training together, according to Sgt. Eric D. Currier, combat engineer foreman, MWSS-172.

“The more that we prepare the Marines with a broad-spectrum of cross-training the (better),” said Currier. “It is not just the infantryman going outside the wire in combat. You have all different types of (military occupational specialties) that go on convoys and will eventually be a gunner in a turret.”

The crew-served weapons training consisted of both classroom and practical application lessons allowing the Marines to learn the weapons operations beginning with the basics.

“We use building blocks; we start off teaching the classes, and we go into dry firing the weapon, doing the immediate and remedial actions and developing muscle memory, so once we get up here to practical application it just clicks with the Marines,” said Currier.

Combining both classroom sessions and live-firing at the range was important in developing the Marines’ confidence in the weapons system according to some instructors.

“You can have classes on it, but, unless (the students) gets hands-on time, the Marines are not going to feel confident,” said Cpl. Samuel R. Holthouser, combat engineer, MWSS-172.

The SMAW is of particular importance to combat engineers and combat engineer support elements because the weapon system is one of their standard capabilities, according to Holthouser.

“The SMAW is organic to combat engineers and assaultmen,” said Holthouser.

The Marines of MWSS-172, despite having never fired the weapon before, showed proficiency, quickly learning its terminology, immediate and remedial actions and use, according to Holthouser.

“It is a very user-friendly weapon. Through the training that we gave them and the hands-on before actually firing it, they were able to put rounds on target every time,” said Holthouser.

Marines looking to keep their newfound skill-set fresh have follow-on training opportunities available to them at the indoor-simulated marksmanship trainer on Camp Foster, according to Currier.

The ISMT allows the Marines to practice on a virtual firing range with the weapons, Currier said.

The chance to come out to the field and learn how to operate these weapons systems was a welcomed opportunity for the Marines, including Lance Cpl. Derek W. Schultz, combat engineer, MWSS-172.

“No one joined the Corps to sit around, we want to come out here and do this kind of stuff,” said Schultz.