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PHOTOS: Massachusetts soldiers learn to fire machine guns in Vermont. Here鈥檚 what it looks like

开云体育 | By ,

Published December 6, 2022 at 6:50 AM EST

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Specialist (Spc.) Steve Gomes, who works as a flight attendant when he鈥檚 not serving the Massachusetts Army National Guard, nears the end of a 240-mile drive north in an armored HUMVEE to Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. For safety reasons, he may not exceed 55 miles per hour and the military convoy he typically travels up in must take scheduled breaks at rest stops, making what would typically be a four-hour drive, closer to 8 or even 10 hours. — Specialist (Spc.) Steve Gomes, who works as a flight attendant when he鈥檚 not serving the Massachusetts Army National Guard, nears the end of a 240-mile drive north in an armored Humvee to Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. For safety reasons, he may not exceed 55 mph and the military convoy he typically travels up in must take scheduled breaks at rest stops, making what would typically be a four-hour drive closer to eight or even ten hours.

The morning after members of the Mass. Guard arrive in Vermont, they drive over to a range where soldiers can practice firing M240, M249, M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns, among others. Currently, soldiers cannot qualify on any of these three weapons in Massachusetts because there鈥檚 no range that can accommodate the qualification process.

More about the machine gun range proposed for Cape Cod

Once on the range, soldiers take in the full view of Bald Hill in the Green Mountains which acts as a distant buffer zone for fired rounds. They鈥檙e eventually expected to hit pop-up targets in the open field to complete their qualification requirements.

The zeroing range can be divided into four areas: first, the protective zone, where soldiers who aren鈥檛 firing watch and wait. Then, just over the protective barrier, soldiers get down onto the ground and begin firing their weapons. Third, there鈥檚 the open field that stretches roughly a mile back where the rounds land. And finally, there are the trees and mountains that enclose the area. — The range can be divided into four areas: first, the protective zone, where soldiers who aren鈥檛 firing watch and wait. Then, just over the protective barrier, soldiers get down onto the ground and begin using their weapons. Third, there鈥檚 the open field that stretches roughly a mile back where the rounds land. And finally, there are the trees and mountains that enclose the area.

Spc. Gomes and others who are not firing must remain behind the protective barrier. Soldiers wear ear protection at this range. — Gomes and others who are not firing must remain behind the protective barrier. Soldiers wear ear protection at this range.

Spc. Jasmine Meneide fires the M2A1 .50 caliber machine gun for the first time. 鈥淭he only reason why I was very nervous and more so in my head is because of safety,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to make sure that I鈥檓 in the correct position, no one else is going to get hurt.鈥� — Specialist Jasmine Meneide fires the M2A1 .50 caliber machine gun for the first time. 鈥淭he only reason why I was very nervous and more so in my head is because of safety,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to make sure that I鈥檓 in the correct position, no one is going to get hurt.鈥�

Spc. Meneide gets help from Master Sgt. John Ruth and her assistant gunner. She leans back, looking through the sights down range, and presses the trigger with her thumbs. — Meneide gets help from her assistant gunner and Master Sgt. Jon Ruth. She leans back, looking through the sights down range, and presses the trigger with her thumbs.

The .50 caliber machine gun, informally known as 鈥淢a Deuce鈥� has an effective range of 2,000 yards and a maximum effective range of 2,200 yards when fired from a tripod.

Soldiers are expected to hit the one inch long, two-inch-wide so-called 鈥渢ombstones鈥� on the posterboard target around 20 yards away, adjusting their aim between shots, in order to pass this step in the qualification process. — Soldiers are expected to hit the one-inch-long, two-inch-wide so-called 鈥渢ombstones鈥� on the posterboard target ten yards away, adjusting their aim between shots, in order to pass this step in the qualification process.

Since the 1930s, the U.S. military has used the .50 cal extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament. It is effective against unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats, infantry, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft. — Since the 1930s, the U.S. military has used the .50 caliber machine gun extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament. It is effective against unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats, low-flying aircraft, infantry, and light fortifications.

Spc. Meneide, who鈥檚 a cosmetologist during the week, joined the military at 17. 鈥淥ne day I saw the word resilience, and I wanted to gain more resilience in life,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen life happens, you're going to be like a basketball. You're going to bounce right back. And I felt I felt as though joining the military would help me become resilient in life. I'm not going to be an egg and just crack.鈥� — Meneide, who鈥檚 a cosmetologist during the week, joined the military at 17. 鈥淥ne day I saw the word resilience, and I wanted to gain more resilience in life,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen life happens, you're going to be like a basketball. You're going to bounce right back. And I felt as though joining the military would help me become resilient in life. I'm not going to be an egg and just crack.鈥�

After about 30 minutes, Spc. Meneide performs adequately and qualifies on the zeroing range 鈥� just empty rounds now sit at her feet. 鈥淚t was exhilarating,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat's how I can describe it.鈥� — After about 30 minutes, Meneide left with empty rounds that sit at her feet. 鈥淚t was exhilarating,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat's how I can describe it.鈥� Next, she has to hit pop-up targets at further distances to qualify on the weapon.

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NPR News New England News Collaborative Military Vermont National Guard

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