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HomeNewsFort Campbell 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment soldiers conduct Avenger training

Fort Campbell 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment soldiers conduct Avenger training

Written by Spc. Joseph Green
101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

101st Sustainment Brigade - LifelinersFort Campbell KY - 101st Airborne Division

Fort Campbell, KY – Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, conducted an Avenger ground gunnery familiarization range August 17th to August 20th at Fort Campbell, KY, firing their Avenger air defense system mounted M3P .50 caliber machine guns at ground targets.

A modified .50 caliber machine gun, the M3P is a single barrel high rate-of-fire weapon capable of being fired and cleared remotely.

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, fire the Avenger air defense system mounted M3P .50 caliber machine gun at ground targets during an Avenger ground gunnery range Aug. 19 at Fort Campbell, Ky. Seven Avenger crews were table XIII certified during the training. (Spc. Joseph Green 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs)
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, fire the Avenger air defense system mounted M3P .50 caliber machine gun at ground targets during an Avenger ground gunnery range Aug. 19 at Fort Campbell, Ky. Seven Avenger crews were table XIII certified during the training. (Spc. Joseph Green 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs)

“The M3P is very unique due to the fact that the Avenger system is one of the only weapon systems that still use it to engage ground targets in today’s missions,” said 2nd Lt. Dawn N. Moffett, a platoon leader with Company C, 2-44th ADA.

The training allowed the Soldiers with 2-44th ADA to familiarize themselves with their Avenger weapons systems and become proficient in operating them for use during future missions.

“The goals of the Avenger gunnery was to certify seven Avenger teams as well as train up for the upcoming Network Integration Exercise we will be participating in,” Moffett said. “Our training was very successful and allowed us to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in our teams and equipment.”

A great deal of preparation and effort goes into making live fire training missions, such as the Avenger ground gunnery, successful.

“Proper planning, training and execution by my NCOs and Avenger master gunners were all key points in making our certifications successful,” Moffett said.

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, work on an Avenger air defense system during an Avenger ground gunnery range held Aug. 19 at Fort Campbell, Ky. Despite periods of heavy rain, Soldiers with 2-44 ADA successfully completed their training to become certified on the Avenger systems. (Spc. Joseph Green 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs)
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, work on an Avenger air defense system during an Avenger ground gunnery range held Aug. 19 at Fort Campbell, Ky. Despite periods of heavy rain, Soldiers with 2-44 ADA successfully completed their training to become certified on the Avenger systems. (Spc. Joseph Green 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs)

Field training, like the Avenger ground gunnery, also makes it possible for Soldiers across the battalion to cross train while the main training is taking place.

“We also had a Sentinel Radar team certify while the Avenger gunnery was being conducted,” Moffett said. “It was great to see a great amount of applicable cross training being conducted that will ensure mission success for future endeavors.”

Despite periods of heavy rain that fell during the training, Soldiers were able to successfully complete the training and certify the Avenger teams.

“This training further improved the unit’s readiness to complete future missions by building Soldier competency,” Moffett said. “This training aids in team building, leadership development, and increases unit and Soldier morale.”

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