WEBVTT

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On January 18 , 2012

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over 140 soldiers with the first

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squadron of the 2-1 cavalry conducted

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their first live fire qualifications

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with the units new to them Bradley

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tanks at Fort Irwin in California . The

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cavalry is one of two combat arms units

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in the Nevada National Guard And this

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is its first chance to train with the

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tanks using real ammunition since it

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returned from Afghanistan in 2010 . As

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Lieutenant Colonel Kurt need in rep

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explains live fire training ,

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especially with new equipment is the

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key to preparing for combat . I think

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training like this is very important .

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It builds crew cohesion for one crews

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have to be able to rely on each other

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in a wartime situation . And I think

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the second thing too is you have to

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build , feel comfortable with your

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equipment when in the combat situations

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we were in in Afghanistan soldiers had

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to make quick decisions and react in

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real time and if you don't have the

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training leading up to that , you're

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not comfortable doing . So the

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qualification table is the accumulation

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of two weeks of training And it

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includes several scenarios designed to

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make sure soldiers are comfortable

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using both their primary and secondary

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equipment and four of the 10

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engagements are done at night . The

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training is tough , but for Staff

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Sergeant Matthew Haines , it's also an

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adrenaline rush when

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it falls off , I'm up as you see where

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next to my gun , I'm stand up with my

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binoculars helping to spot targets . Um ,

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it's definitely , it's a rush because

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you feel a little bit of a concussion

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when it exits to um it's a little bit

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of a rush , but you gotta put that rush

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in your pocket and maintain focus in

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tempo if you will on the target and

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getting those rounds on target . It's

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very exhilarating In all caps ,

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soldiers will expend over 35,000 rounds

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of ammunition , which means they have

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not only experienced the excitement of

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firing from the Bradleys , they are now

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qualified to do so as well . For 106

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public affairs detachment . I'm army

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sergeant , Victor Jakes .