It’s because of images like these that TFB’s Photo Of The Day exists. Above you see a Ranger with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, as he engages targets during squad live fire (blank iteration), while operationally testing the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-AR) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Here’s an introductory caption to the event:

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky — Screaming Eagle Division Soldiers here just completed training and testing the Army’s 6.8mm family of Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R), NGSW-Automatic Rifle (AR) and the NGSW-Fire Control (FC) systems.

Troops of Alpha (Attack) Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles), and members of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, undertook New Equipment Training on the NGSW.

“The New Equipment Training gave the Soldiers a good base before coming out and using the NGSWs,” said Infantryman Sgt. Jack Scott, a Team Leader in Attack Company.

Their training covered the similarities and differences between the new weapons and the legacy 5.56mm M4A1 Carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon systems, focusing on enhanced lethality.

Below: Infantrymen with 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles), execute squad live fire, while operationally testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Photo by Mr. Mark Scovell, Visual Information Specialist, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

An infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles), fires the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle during the buddy team live fire exercise while operationally testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Photo by Mr. Mark Scovell, Visual Information Specialist, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

We will be back with more images from this event!

Images: Photo by Mr. Mark Scovell, Visual Information Specialist, U.S. Army Operational Test Command. Captions: Maj. Rodrick A. Polk, test officer, Maneuver Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command