Photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Adam Stone
U.S. Army paratroopers recently got some foreign weapons training as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The Polish Land Forces 6th Airborne Battalion, 6th Airborne Brigade trained members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade on Polish weapons at Drawsko Pomorskie training area.
The American paratroopers assembled, loaded and fired the Polish RPG-7B, a reusable rocket- propelled grenade launcher. They also got hand-on training with the M1996 Beryl 5.56mm rifle, the UKM-2000 machine gun, and the Polish M-83 9mm pistol.
"It was the first time I'd fired a rocket launcher," Spc. Kyle Archibeque, of D Company D, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, said in an Army release.
"When it goes off, the rest of the world goes quiet, mostly from your ears ringing, and then the smoke disappears in time to see the explosion. It's like perfect timing all across the board."
The weapons training was part of a training exchange focusing on weapons familiarity during Operation Atlantic Resolve, combined military-forces training designed to sustain strong relationships between allies and demonstrate a commitment to NATO obligations, according to an Army release.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Adam Stone
