FORT CARSON, Colo. — Leaders of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division gathered at the installation’s ranges on April 28 to witness the culmination and validation of the brigade’s year-long journey to become the U.S. Army’s most modern and lethal ground fighting force with the addition of the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Javelin, or CROWS-J.
The CROWS-J allows Soldiers to fire the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile from within the vehicle, allowing for on-the-move target acquisition and engagement.
“[The Javelins] are a very capable missile,” said Capt. Jacob Poag, operations officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We are taking the opportunity to fire 12 Javelins today, which will get six crews across the brigade to fire.”
Firing the FGM-148 using the CROWS-J had not been done previously by any Brigade Combat Team in the U.S. Army, outside of testing. The occasion provided Soldiers an opportunity to do so outside of simulated, virtual training.
“There are portions of training you can’t get in a simulation that you can only get by firing a live missile,” Poag said. “It’s incredibly important for the brigade to make us a lot more lethal by firing today.”
Before installing the CROWS-J onto Strykers, the FGM-148 Javelin was designed to be shoulder-fired by a dismounted Soldier.
“We have the ability to fire about 100 dismounted Javelins during any kind of training mission or [if we are] to be deployed,” Poag said. “The addition of the CROWS-J gives us double that, making us very lethal in the anti-tank realm.”
“We are now the most lethal force there is,” said Spc. Jerett Vermeis with 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We are ready for whatever the nation needs us for.”
By SGT Gabrielle Pena
Some photos by MAJ Jason Elmore
