GRAYLING, Mich. - The Army continues to develop and utilize equipment to keep soldiers safe. That is why 40 Michigan Army National Guard soldiers from the 144th Military Police Company in Corunna, Mich., trained with the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station during their annual training at Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site in Camp Grayling, Mich., July 15, 2012.

The CROWS II is a remote-operated system that can be mounted on several different military vehicles such as the Buffalo - a mine protected vehicle, M1 tank and Humvee to fire four weapon systems - M2 machine gun, MK19 grenade machine gun, M249 and M240.

The purpose of CROWS II is to keep the gunner inside the vehicle rather than standing outside as a target for enemy fire or roadside bombing. Therefore, Soldiers sit inside the vehicle and the gunner is able to use the joystick to operate the mounted system.

The military police company will train with this new system from July 15 to the 19.

There are six instructors from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command headquartered in Warren, Mich., who will teach this course.

Loren Larkey, an instructor, said the soldiers are taught familiarization of the CROWS II system and on the last day of class the Soldiers will use the skills they learned on the range.
Larkey said the system could locate a target at up to 1,500 meters and has thermal imaging for visibility at night.

He also said several thousands systems are being used in Afghanistan.

Consequently, this training opportunity will prepare the company for deployment at the end of this year.

“I was impressed with the machine,” said Pfc. Sheldon Ester.

Ester has been in the military for 5 1/2 years. He recently came back from Afghanistan in October 2011 with the 1776th Military Police Company in Taylor, Mich.

Pfc. Anthony Longo said the first day of CROWS II training was exciting.

Longo and Ester transferred from the 1776th and they are both looking forward to utilizing their skills with the CROWS II system for their upcoming deployment.