PHOTOS: Deploying Soldiers Qualify on Multiple Weapon Systems

By Sgt. Will Hill, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

Sgt. Steven Shaw, an Indiana National Guard Soldier leans back to get lineof sight as he fires a .50 caliber machine gun during weapon qualification training
Sgt. Steven Shaw, an Indiana National Guard Soldier leans back to get lineof-sight as he fires a .50 caliber machine gun during weapon qualification training

Sgt. Steven Shaw, an Indiana National Guard Soldier from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, leans back to get line-of-sight as he fires a .50 caliber machine gun during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. More than 50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB participated in the qualification training on multiple weapons systems to include, the M4 assault rifle, the 50 caliber machine gun, the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and many more in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

An Indiana National Guard Soldier prepares to engage targets with the Mk19 grenade launcher.
An Indiana National Guard Soldier prepares to engage targets with the Mk19 grenade launcher.

An Indiana National Guard Soldier, from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, prepares to engage targets with the Mk19 grenade launcher as the sun rises at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Joint Training Center. More than 50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB qualified on multiple weapon systems during weapons qualification training for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

1st. Lt. Todd Whitson, range training technician at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, confirms hits or misses by observing Soldiers from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade firing the Mk 19 Grenade Launcher.
1st. Lt. Todd Whitson, range training technician at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, confirms hits or misses by observing Soldiers from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade firing the Mk 19 Grenade Launcher.

1st. Lt. Todd Whitson, range training technician at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, confirms hits or misses by observing Soldiers from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade firing the Mk 19 Grenade Launcher. More than 50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB participated in the qualification training on multiple weapons systems includes, the M4 assault rifle, the .50 caliber machine gun, the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and many more in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

A .50 caliber machine gun is ready for firing by Indiana National Guard Soldiers.
A .50 caliber machine gun is ready for firing by Indiana National Guard Soldiers.

A .50 caliber machine gun is ready for firing by Indiana National Guard Soldiers from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

An Indiana National Guard Soldier inspects a 40mm grenade before loading the ammunition into the Mk 19 grenade launcher.
An Indiana National Guard Soldier inspects a 40mm grenade before loading the ammunition into the Mk 19 grenade launcher.

An Indiana National Guard Soldier from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade inspects a 40mm grenade before loading the ammunition into the Mk 19 grenade launcher during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. The Mk 19 is a belt-fed automatic grenade launcher which can fire 40mm grenades at a cyclic rate of 325 to 375 rounds per minute. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

Staff Sgt. David Wilson fires the Mk19 grenade launcher during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury.
Staff Sgt. David Wilson fires the Mk19 grenade launcher during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury.

Staff Sgt. David Wilson, a Shelbyville, Ind. Soldier from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, fires the Mk19 grenade launcher during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. More than 50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB qualified on multiple weapon systems for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

Sgt. Drue Gilbert and Pvt. Jess Neal inspect their ammunition for a Squad Automatic Weapon.
Sgt. Drue Gilbert and Pvt. Jess Neal inspect their ammunition for a Squad Automatic Weapon.

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, from Greenfield, Ind., and Pvt. Jess Neal, from York Town, both Indiana National Guard Soldiers from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, inspect their ammunition for a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. More than 50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB qualified on multiple weapon systems for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, a signal support systems specialist, fires a Squad Automatic Weapon.
Sgt. Drue Gilbert, a signal support systems specialist, fires a Squad Automatic Weapon.

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, from Greenfield, Ind., a signal support systems specialist from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, fires a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. More than .50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB participated in the qualification training on multiple weapons systems to include the M4 assault rifle, the .50 caliber machine gun, the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and many more in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, from Greenfield, Ind., a signal support systems specialist from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, looks down range at his target during Squad Automatic Weapon qualification training.
Sgt. Drue Gilbert, from Greenfield, Ind., a signal support systems specialist from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, looks down range at his target during Squad Automatic Weapon qualification training.

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, from Greenfield, Ind., a signal support systems specialist from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, looks down range at his target during Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. More than 50 Soldiers from the 219th BFSB participated in the qualification training on multiple weapons systems to include the M4 assault rifle, the .50 caliber machine gun, the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and many more in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, a signal support systems specialist, fires a Squad Automatic Weapon as his spotter, Pvt. Jess Neal observes and locates the target.
Sgt. Drue Gilbert, a signal support systems specialist, fires a Squad Automatic Weapon as his spotter, Pvt. Jess Neal observes and locates the target.

Sgt. Drue Gilbert, from Greenfield, Ind., a signal support systems specialist from the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, fires a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) as his spotter, Pvt. Jess Neal, from York Town, also from the 219th BFSB, observes and locates the target for his partner during weapon qualification training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

By Sgt. Will Hill, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

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Military Friends of NewsBlaze originated these stories, sending them directly to us from Iraq, some from Afghanistan and some in the USA.