FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division honed their short-range marksmanship skills during their annual training at Fort Indiantown Gap on July 21, 2020.
Under the guidance of Staff Sgt. Richard Cihanowyz and Staff Sgt. Lee Zimmerman, the Bravo Company Soldiers were instructed on movement and reloading drills they would be conducting during the training.
Cihanowyz stressed that this kind of training was paramount for a Soldier to learn where best to secure their magazine pouches, first aid kit, and more.
“Depending on whether you are left or right-handed, make sure your gear supports how you operate,” Cihanowyz said. “This is the time to learn what works and what doesn’t work – not in the field.”
Using empty magazines, the Soldiers were led by their team and squad leaders on several different magazine exchanges; depending on situations that may occur in field the Soldiers were drilled with completing full magazine exchanges or exchanging magazines. Using commands, the team and squad leaders encourage the Soldiers to develop the muscle memory to complete these exchanges quicker or easier.
The next training was footwork and muzzle discipline. Cihanowyz and Zimmerman demonstrated several different patterns and methods, like a triangle, for Soldiers to learn to move effectively while maintaining proper body position and muzzle awareness.
The culmination was a series of live-fire training events: short range marksmanship and shot placement. The SRM event challenged Soldiers with moving between different distances and engaging a target with two rapid shots.
Training like SRM teaches a Soldier to move effectively and register and engage a target faster, said Zimmerman.
The Bravo Company Soldiers completed the SRM training successfully and were better prepared for the rest of the training scheduled for annual training.