OPERATION WARRIOR TRAINER

Veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom who believe they have experience that would help train other Soldiers use their weapons more effectively when deploying to combat, should consider serving with the First Army Small Arms Readiness Group (SARG). The SARG mobilized Provisional Battalion works under the direction of the First Army G3. Its mission is to conduct weapons Preliminary Marksmanship Training on all Small Arms from the M9 Pistol and M16/M4 up to the MK19 Automatic Grenade Launcher along with the optics/night vision equipment which enhance their capabilities. SARG Detachments serve as the Small Arms training subject matter experts at Installations where Reserve Component Soldiers and many Air Force and Navy personnel prepare for deployment to combat theaters. Often SARG Instructors can be found on qualification ranges conducting remedial training and assisting range cadre.

An additional mission of the SARG is to train new instructors who can, in turn, serve in the mobilization mission and later return to their units as subject matter experts. Army National Guard and US Army Reserve personnel are able to apply for weapons trainer positions through the innovative Operation Warrior Trainer (OWT) Program instituted by LTG Russell Honore’, the Commanding General of First Army.

The primary candidates for OWT are normally from pay grades E5-E8. A limited number of highly qualified officers have been accepted into OWT. The SARG has also been allowed to use soldiers in pay grade E4. Soldiers who are accepted into the program go through an initial train-up period of approximately 60 days, after which they are sent to one of eight Power Projection Platforms (PPP) or mobilization training sites across the U.S. At present, there are opportunities at Fort Lewis, WA, Fort Bliss, TX, Fort Hood, TX, Fort Sill, OK, Fort McCoy, WI, Fort Dix, NJ, Camp Shelby, MS, and Camp Atterbury, IN. Wherever the Soldiers are assigned, they are expected to be prepared to go TDY to support other installations across the country for up to sixty days per year.

It is required that each redeploying Commander sign a release allowing the Soldiers under their command to participate in OWT. A SARG Representative will be sent to meet with those units who indicate that they have Soldiers who are interested and who will be released to First Army SARG for 365 days upon their acceptance for OWT as a weapons trainer. Interested returning Warriors must apply within 180 days of their first return to the U.S. However, the paperwork and accession process is greatly simplified when the Soldiers apply prior to accepting a REFRAD order and DD214.

The SARG is headquartered at Fort Gillem, GA. Any Warriors who wish to be considered as Weapons Trainer OWTs or who desire more information on the SARG OWT program should email CW2 Ralph Long at Ralph.Long@first.army.mil. Those who are accepted will find the training for the Instructor positions to be top notch. The positions are “high visibility” and very rewarding, the best OWT jobs in the country.