JOINT BASE CAPE COD — The drive out to the Sierra Range, one of the few active gun ranges on Camp Edwards, is long, dusty and bumpy. Upon arrival, there’s an open field filled with grass-covered berms. Brightly colored plastic targets sit upright, riddled with bullet holes.
The range, one of four currently active on Joint Base Camp Cod, is used to train members of the National Guard in using M4 and M16 rifles. Members use the range following virtual and short-range pistol training.
A soldier has to hit 23 of the 40 targets from distances of 50 and 300 meters to meet their annual training requirement, and they have just over three minutes to complete the task.