Gunnery range qualifications

by CPL Tim Oberle

YANGPYEONG, South Korea—The 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, also known as the “Nightmare Battalion,” conducted door-gunnery qualifications Nov. 5 at Bisung Range, near Yangpyeong, South Korea.

“We conducted our door gunnery qualifications at Bisung Range with the M-240 machine gun for our nonrated crew members,” said Capt. Travis Owen, the A Co., 3-2 GSAB commander. “We have an annual requirement to qualify and we have an additional gunnery every six months for currency purposes.”

“Originally the exercise was supposed to include both UH-60 Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks however the weather prevented the Chinooks from qualifying,” said Joon Kwon, an aviation operations specialist from Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 3rd GSAB and the operations non-commissioned officer in charge for the range qualifications.

“The qualifications are mostly about familiarization with the weapons system,” said Kwon, “because it helps prepare us for war, so that when you do go down range you know how to utilize the weapon system,” added Kwon.

“To fulfill the brigade’s full spectrum training regimen we have a responsibility at the company level to provide fully manned and combat capable qualified crews in order to be ready to fight tonight,” said Owen. “This type of training is also important because soldiers need to be on their toes and ready to engage the enemy.”

While on the range, A Co. had support from some of the Nightmare Battalion brethren using the Bambi Bucket, a large bucket filled with water and slung from a helicopter that is then dropped on a fire.

“The guys from B Co. 3-2 provided us with great support with the Bambi Bucket because one of the dangers of going to range is the potential for fire,” said Owen. “After our first round of firing, a fire actually did start and within ten minutes they were off the ground and had the fire extinguished.”

“All of the Soldiers were highly motivated throughout the exercise because we usually conduct the gunnery at Multi-purpose Range Complex and the setting at Bisung is much different,” said Kwon.

“Overall the aviators and crew members did a fantastic job qualifying,” said Owen. “Day to day we escort VIP’s so the guys were really excited to get out here on the range for some action.”

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