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Marines and Australian
DFC Test New Weapons Simulation
by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Alexandria Nowell
May 8,
2020
Click. Click. Pop. A slight vibration sent through the shoulder.
Focus on the next moving target. Pop. One more to go. Pop. Unload
show clear. “End of Scenario” fades in white letters as the screen
goes black.
U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force –
Darwin and Australian service members familiarized themselves with
each other’s weapon systems while training in the Weapons Training
Simulation System at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory
on April 29, 2020.
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April 29, 2020 - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Neilryan Sablan, the administration chief with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, coaches U.S. Marines and Australian Defence Force service members through shooting the M4 carbine at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, April 29, 2020. The Marine service rifle was integrated with the Australian's Weapons Training Simulation System for the first time, allowing the U.S. and Australian service members to maintain readiness while observing proper COVID-19 social distancing rules. The Marines were part a 54 member advance party who arrived prior to boarder closures associated with COVID-19. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Natalie Greenwood)
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While the COVID-19 pandemic has halted the full MRF-D rotation
until later this year, U.S. and Australian service members have
worked to find new ways to stay ready and capable as an
interoperable fighting force.
“Our ability to understand
each other’s capabilities is paramount and that’s one of the main
reasons we have the MRF-D as a rotation,” said Maj. Johnathon
Ronayne, Australian Defence Force liaison to MRF-D.
“Interoperability and, more to the point, the ability for forces to
cooperate at large is part of the operation that is the MRF-D. So in
order to be capable as best as we can be to stop any threats or to
be postured to respond to any, we should know and understand
intimately each other’s weapon systems.”
Beyond just
familiarization, the Marines integrated the M4 carbine with the WTSS
for the first time. Ronayne said testing the M4 in the WTSS is a new
capability which “gives us a broad cross section to allow us to
continue to train, which is especially important in this day and
age.”
When a loud voice says, “I need two for the drill
coming next!” Marines and Australian soldiers step up and load one
magazine. “Scenario Begins” appears on the screen. It’s go time
again. Target is acquired. Pop.
The WTSS is a fully featured
simulation system. Service members fire battery powered weapons at a
three-screened, cinema-sized projection on the wall standing about
ten meters away. Wind machines and light effects provided a
realistic and adaptable training environment. Marines and
Australians trained side-by-side, in compliance with the regulations
set in place by both countries. The WTSS was operated at
half-capacity to maintain the social distancing and disinfecting
measures put in place.
“In order for us to properly follow
the guidelines, they are having us in every other space which is
about six feet, probably a little bit more, between each shooter to
better distance ourselves and still get effective training in,”
states Cpl. Nitselly Henriquez, an administrative specialist with
MRF-D. “We are being especially mindful about cleaning the weapons
off as we use them and not passing them off to each other.”
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April 29, 2020 - U.S.
Marines and Australian Defence Force service members shoot
an M4 carbine on the Weapons Training Simulation System at
Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marine service rifle was integrated with the Australian's WTSS for the first time, allowing the U.S. and Australian service members to maintain readiness while observing proper COVID-19 social distancing rules. The Marines were part a 54 member advance party who arrived prior to boarder closures associated with COVID-19. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Natalie Greenwood)
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The WTSS can be compared to the U.S. Marines Corps Indoor
Simulated Marksmanship Trainer - Enhanced. The ISMT-E, like the
WTSS, allows troops to practice shooting and live-fire scenarios
indoors before ever firing live ammunition.
“In my opinion,
the WTSS does a great job of putting you in a scenario where you
have to think on your feet,” Lance Cpl. Samuel Pekula, a landing
support specialist with MRF-D, stated. “I believe it captures the
unpredictability that a lot of training just doesn’t have.”
As the scenario appears to be
ending, shooters look to their far right. On the screen, an enemy
force is laying in the grass. Pop. Pop. Target eliminated.
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