SGT STOUT crews conduct live-fire gunnery at Grafenwoehr

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - U.S. Army air defenders assigned to Alpha Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, conducted air defense gunnery tables III-VI with the SGT STOUT air defense system at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

During the week-long gunnery, air defenders certified their proficiency with the vehicle's kinetic weapons while incorporating lessons learned from major training exercises and ongoing global conflicts. Though this is always a team effort, the Stryker variant's gunner is the one who can determine if the crew is able to qualify.

For Pfc. Weston Harrod, an air defender with Alpha Battery, this live-fire gunnery marked his first opportunity to qualify as a gunner on the SGT STOUT.

"This gunnery, it's my first [time qualifying as] a proper gunner for the SGT STOUT," Harrod said.

Each of the tables works on a specific task, especially for the gunners. Table III runs crews through a dry simulation to test communication, tracking, acquisition and engagement procedures. Table IV focuses on zeroing the XM-914 30mm canon and M-240 machine gun. While, table V and VI is to test the crews on multiple stationary and mobile ground and aerial target testing accuracy and response time.

"The gunnery is more for getting you ready, for knowing your weapon systems and knowing how to properly work the SGT STOUT," Harrod said.

For Cpl. Joshua Lebrun, another air defender with Alpha Battery, preparing to operate the weapons includes ensuring the equipment properly maintained.

"My responsibility as a gunner is to make sure that our equipment is functioning properly and maintain[ed]… at all times," Lebrun said.

Lebrun said, the qualification and proficiency with the vehicle's weapons are central to the gunner's job. That individual responsibility also requires coordination with the rest of the crew.

Communication between the vehicle commander and gunner during Table VI is essential, Spc. Joshua Herbinger, a SGT STOUT gunner, explained.

"If you don't have that, you're not going to do as good as you think you are," Herbinger said.

The gunnery tables offers an opportunity to develop that working relationship while firing the vehicle's weapons.

"Getting out here and being able to shoot the weapon is one of the best parts of my job," Harrod said. "It's something I won't forget."

The week was a success with all the crews coming out of the gunnery fully certified on their weapons systems. Most importantly the training supported the brigade's overall efforts to build ready, survivable and adaptable formations.