SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 1 Reserve Sailors concluded a week of qualifying on small arms and crew-serve weapons systems Aug. 22 at the inaugural field training exercise series Shark Tank 2010 on San Clemente Island, Calif.
Six Reserve detachments from Texas and San Diego have gathered for the training, which focused on the many facets of expeditionary warfare.
Chief Gunner's Mate Jeffrey Meals, Shark Tank 2010's senior range safety officer, explained the process of qualifying more than 260 Sailors on the range of weapons.
"What we're doing is familiarization qualification fire on small arms and crew-serve weapons systems," said Meals. "Those include the M2 .50-caliber, the 9 millimeter pistol, the 556 carbine, the M4 A1 and the M500 shotgun. Sailors have to meet a certain expectation to qualify on the marksman, sharpshooter and expert levels."
Meals emphasized the importance of the training environment in the overall qualification experience.
"Everybody trains in a demanding environment, and this island provides the challenge for Sailors to meet certain goals. They have to think creatively to get the job done," said Meals. "I've talked to all the Sailors out here, and they love it out here. This is where they get to train and practice and put the skills to use. When they do deploy, they'll feel more comfortable in the weapons systems and the procedures."
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Miguel Monarez, a Shark Tank 2010 student from El Paso, Texas, with Security Detachment Echo, emphasized the importance of every person in an expeditionary warfare environment needing to be familiar and comfortable with operating various weapons systems.
"As a corpsman, we're not supposed to be combatants. But if it comes down to it and you're the last man standing, you should be able to operate all these weapons and save your team," said Monarez.
The weapons qualifications concluded with a night shoot Aug. 22. Sixteen Sailors met the challenge of firing at targets with the 9 millimeter pistol and M4 rifle using only a flashlight and an expanded sight for aid.
Meals explained the importance of varying the conditions and environments to qualify and prepare a Sailor for operating in an expeditionary warfare condition.
"It's not like on a ship where you're confined to a certain environment. These Sailors have to deal with different terrain, weather conditions, lighting conditions, but the response has been outstanding and morale is very high out here," said Meals.
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