thedrifter
11-29-07, 06:29 AM
Japanese visitors get taste of Marine marksmanship course
By Cindy Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, November 30, 2007
CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — Marines gave visiting Japanese troops a taste of marksmanship training Wednesday on Camp Kinser.
The 24 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force visited the 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility as part of the Japanese Observer Exchange Program.
Marines explained the capabilities and safety features of the M-16A4 and the M-249, then demonstrated the courses of fire for Marine Corps rifle qualification.
The ISMT is a tool that “re-familiarizes Marines to the standards before the issue of live ammo,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffery Wagner, 38, from Ashley, Mich., a tactics instructor for the group.
Japanese servicemembers also had the chance to fire the M-16A2 and M-16A4 rifle simulators.
The visitors will take what they learn here and apply it to their own training, said Japanese Maj. Hideyuki Kawasaki.
He said that in the Japanese marksmanship simulator facility where he trains, soldiers mostly focus on marksmanship, so it was interesting to see how much focus the Marine instructors put on safety controls.
Wagner said he also found the experience interesting.
The Japanese servicemembers were “attentive. They’re alert. … You can see it,” he said.
Ellie
By Cindy Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, November 30, 2007
CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — Marines gave visiting Japanese troops a taste of marksmanship training Wednesday on Camp Kinser.
The 24 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force visited the 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility as part of the Japanese Observer Exchange Program.
Marines explained the capabilities and safety features of the M-16A4 and the M-249, then demonstrated the courses of fire for Marine Corps rifle qualification.
The ISMT is a tool that “re-familiarizes Marines to the standards before the issue of live ammo,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffery Wagner, 38, from Ashley, Mich., a tactics instructor for the group.
Japanese servicemembers also had the chance to fire the M-16A2 and M-16A4 rifle simulators.
The visitors will take what they learn here and apply it to their own training, said Japanese Maj. Hideyuki Kawasaki.
He said that in the Japanese marksmanship simulator facility where he trains, soldiers mostly focus on marksmanship, so it was interesting to see how much focus the Marine instructors put on safety controls.
Wagner said he also found the experience interesting.
The Japanese servicemembers were “attentive. They’re alert. … You can see it,” he said.
Ellie