An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 25, 2021

Michigan National Guard Soldiers complete new weapons course

By Master Sgt. David Eichaker, Michigan National Guard

AUGUSTA, Mich. – Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers zeroed in on one of the fundamentals of being a Soldier this month, completing the Army’s new individual weapons qualification course.

“This new individual weapons qualification course is more realistic,” said Sgt. 1st Class Williams Burns, assigned to the 177th Regiment, Regional Training Institute (RTI). “Soldiers have to execute multiple magazine changes without being directed to, monitor their round count internally, and count their targets.”

The course replaces the previous annual marksmanship qualification standards with one that requires the shooter to engage targets faster. The course also teaches Soldiers to fire their M16 rifle or M4 carbine in positions they may find themselves in during combat.

“It felt really good being able to go through what felt like a natural movement in an urban setting,” said Staff Sgt. Tatjuana Hackett, combat medic, 177th Regiment, RTI. “I might start out standing because I am walking, but then might have to immediately go into a prone position to make myself a smaller target and reduce my silhouette and make sure I’m safe.

“If I have to get ready to move, I would transition to a kneeling position and then a standing position to push forward. It all makes sense for engaging an enemy in an urban setting,” she said.

Soldiers equipped with the M4 rifle shot while standing, prone supported, prone unsupported and kneeling. Before ascending on the qualification course, the Soldiers, who are assigned at Fort Custer Training Center and typically provide individual skills and leadership development training, adjusted their optics for better accuracy.

“At the zero range, the Soldiers made sure their optics are zeroed on their target,” said Burns. “Once that’s done, they come to the qualification range and shoot 15 rounds at 300, 200 and 100 meters to confirm the weapons are zeroed in.”

The course itself was more challenging for Hackett.

“I have been in (the Guard) for almost 20 years and know and understand the old course very well,” she said. “When I got to the zero range and found out everything was going to be different, I felt slightly anxious because I was deviating from the norm for me.”

Hackett said she thought the new course enhanced her marksmanship abilities.

“We had two more rounds per shot group to zero,” she said. “This was beneficial as I was able to see my breathing pattern and trigger squeeze control in the shot group and make adjustments. It’s more accurate because you can see more points of contact per shot.”

The new course used barricades, promoting urban warfighting with shooting in various supported and unsupported positions.

“We were able to use barriers as support during qualification as if you were using something to prop you up in a real firefight,” said Hackett. “It’s definitely more fluid, real-life, and mimics using our vehicles for support. You might have to get out and on the hood of your vehicle and engage a target or fall on the ground and engage behind cover.”

 

 

Related Articles
Michigan National Guard Biathlon Team members compete at the Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Competition, held this year at the Mount Itasca Winter Sports Center in Coleraine, Minn., from Feb. 28-March 5, 2025.  The annual competition is held in one of three host states, Minnesota, Utah and Vermont, and is open to National Guard members in all 54 states and territories.
Michigan Guard Team Competes at Biathlon Championship
By 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine, | March 20, 2025
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan National Guard Biathlon Team competed at the Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship at Mount Itasca, Minnesota, from Feb. 28-March 5. The annual event brings together top competitors...

The Alabama National Guard won the overall team championship at the 2025 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning, Georgia March 9-15, 2025. Team members (second from left to right): Sgt. Maj. Stephen Murchison (captain), Master Sgt. Joseph Spradlin, Sgt. Gavin Blackwood and Spc. Cameron Drake.
National Guard is Marksmanship Champ for 10th Straight Year
By Capt. Janice Rintz, | March 19, 2025
FORT BENNING, Ga. – The Alabama National Guard’s Alabama Alpha team outscored 45 other teams to claim the 2025 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships held March 9-15 at Fort Benning.After firing more than 500 rounds across 11...

The Nebraska National Guard, shown Dec. 12, 2024, won the 54th WPW Sniper Championship and Chief David R. Logan Sniper Team Trophy is the Nebraska National Guard. The WPW Sniper Championship, held at Fort Chaffee, Ark., and hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, brought together elite marksmen to compete in precision shooting and tactical decision-making, honoring the storied legacy of military sniper excellence.
Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa Guard Excel at Sniper Championship
By 1st Lt. Daniel Condit, | Dec. 16, 2024
BARLING, Ark. — Thirty-three two-person sniper teams showcased their precision and tactical expertise during the 54th Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship and the 34th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting Sniper Championship...