Special Tactics Train U.S. Army

Narrator: The 17th Special Tactics Squadron, an Air Force Special Operations Unit stationed here on Fort Benning, got together with a platoon over at 3rd Brigade to see what kind of experience and ingenuity they could pass along to each other.

1LT Joseph Lucas, 3rd Armored Brigade: We wanna get our guys some exposure, we wanna get them out there, you know, allowing them to see there are other avenues they can go. Some of these guys when they got to the range they lose their sight when firing, causing them not to qualify. This gives them a better opportunity too to just see how to use their optics versus, say, turn this button this way, do this, you know, now they can actually know how to use it. They know how to place their hands to better control the weapon when firing.

Narrator: Not only is this young platoon working with experienced Air Force special operators on the techniques of marksmanship, they are also getting the chance to shoot weapons they may have only seen in a video game.

SSG Kyle Steph, 3rd Armored Brigade: We're working with the MK-17, (the SCAR heavy) and Glocks. We're also working with modified M4s. These guys normally work with M4s but now they get the opportunity to get to use, like, a shorter-barrelled M4, an M4 that has a suppressor on the front of it. It's a unique opportunity for everyone, including myself, because I, for one, have never shot a SCAR. They'll never get this opportunity again unless they get to some sort of Special Tactics group so that's fantastic for them.

Narrator: An opportunity like this is remarkable for the students to ask questions and learn from the special operators who have done 12 to 15 deployments each. But this is also an opportunity for these experienced Airmen, with the help of young soldiers, to think outside the box.

Lt Col John Traxler, 17th Special Tactics Squadron: You often learn more from the student than they do from you . You'd be amazed at the simplicity of the questions and the approaches that show almost an innocence in their perspective that forces you to look at things as if you've never done them before. One thing we're always looking for are new ideas and you'd be surprised at the great ideas someone who has never done this before can come up with. We learn and it reminds us how to hone our skins and where the weak areas are.

SSG Kyle Steph, 3rd Armored Brigade: We're surrounded by different special groups. We've had all these opportunities to get with these guys and now we have the opportunity to train with these guys. I hope other units can do the same.

Narrator: The opportunity these two units received to train together will hopefully follow each and every soldier and special operator throughout their careers.

Air Force Special Operator: So your eyes move first... then your weapon. Eyes move... your weapon.

Narrator: But the opportunity for this training to happen is what the Maneuver Center Of Excellence really stands for: a chance for all units on post to work with and learn from each other. Nicole Randal, Fort Benning, Georgia.