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When you're part of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew in the Army Reserve, your skills have got to soar. In this training exercise, Soldiers in the 244th Aviation Brigade practice defending their aircraft with an
M-60 machine gun.
Being a Soldier in the Army Reserve gives you skills that go beyond your specific job function. You learn how to work as a team and how to lead. Watch Army Reserve Soldiers of the 244th prepare for their exercise.
Each member of the team does his or her part to ensure the mission is a success. From the Chinook pilots to the detachment commander, each Soldier knows what to do to help the others out. See how everyone works together to hit the target.
The Army Reserve is crucial to the overall mission of the Army. Watch Chief Warrant Officer Davis explain why Reserve training plays such a critical role in the Army's success.
Qualification Helicopter Gunnery Reserve Drill    
| CW2 Vladimir Filzon:
As a pilot, our major job down range is to provide a medium for them to do their gunnery. | 
| Since it's aerial gunnery, we have to have an aircraft. | 
| For the gunners, what we try to do is provide a stable platform; so then they can bracket themselves and bring the tracer around directly on to the target in the most quick and efficient manner. | 
| SPC Steve Cappel:
It is exciting every time. I will never get tired of flying. You're on the ride; you're seeing all the scenery go by. | 
| You come in, you've got 200 rounds of ammunition and you're just—there are your targets, as soon as they pop up, light 'em up—you know, put holes in them. | 
| [ helicopter, machine gun fire ] | 
| CW4 Wesley Davis:
I'll be in the tower, making sure that all the folks are shooting correctly, that we're being safe, that all the logistics are taken care of. | 
| When it comes to firing weapons on the Chinook, the gunner has to take into account several things that will affect the accuracy of their shooting.
Shooting from a hover may be different than shooting as the helicopter is actually moving or as the helicopter is taking off. So all the targets are designed with different engagements. What the gunner has to take into account as far as leading the target, lagging a target, the range of the target.
Our soldiers walking away from this drill, feeling confident that in a combat situation, they can, in fact, fire these weapons and can, in fact, protect themselves and know they can continue to support the Army's mission. |
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