Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers Train On New Weapon System

NewsOn6.com

BRAGGS, Oklahoma -- Oklahoma Army National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has finished training in Muskogee County on the new Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station(CROWS).

A news release from the National Guard said the CROWS system is a remote controlled weapons system that is mounted on top of military vehicles alleviating the need to have a human gunner exposed to gun fire, artillery or improvised explosive devices.

CROWS is still operated by a gunner, but he is inside the vehicle firing at the enemy.

"It gives me a great piece of mind knowing that we have such an awesome, new weapon system," said Sgt. 1st Class Jessie Wiebe, Stabilization Transition Team. "It is extremely valuable because nothing is more important than our Soldier's lives and this system will help keep them out of harm's way."

The release says the gunner operates the system with a joystick and a monitor.

Each CROWS system costs the 45th IBCT around $250,000.

8/20/2010 Related Story: 45th Infantry Brigade Deployment Largest Since Korean War

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