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Washington National Guard trains with new weapons for wildfires and war

Most Washington National Guard members also hold civilian jobs. Now they are training on a new set of weapons — and for a new set of scenarios.

The Washington National Guard has new weapons in their arsenal — and that means new training.

This summer, guard members are learning how to use Stryker vehicles assigned to the state last year. The heavy-duty vehicles comes with weapons like mortar and grenade launchers.

Roughly 90 percent of Washington National Guard members hold civilian jobs.

"Getting them comfortable with weapons systems, it’s incredibly important," said Command Sgt. Major Carter Richardson, a vehicle commander on one of the new Strykers.

Specialist Kang Lee is a mailman in Tacoma, "Helping people, for me, is a good thing to do."

Lee was called to duty for wildfires and the Oso landslide. He admits learning how to fire the MK-19 grenade launcher was not easy.

"You’ve just got to practice every day,” said Lee, who is in the middle of his three-week training session.

He said he needs to get comfortable with the launcher in case he’s deployed overseas someday.

"It’s like your phone,” said Lee, “You’re on the phone all the phone, every day. Your weapon is your phone."

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