FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, maneuver an M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle into position before beginning a platoon live-fire exercise lane Sept. 10, 2021, on a range at Fort Carson. Unlike dismounted infantry platoon live fires, mechanized infantry platoons must also plan for the employment of their Bradley vehicles to be effective on the battlefield. (Photo by Capt. Tobias Cukale)
By Spc. Scyrrus Corregidor
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. Kidmanshaq Sea, right, and Cpl. Jordan Shavit with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, provide suppressive fire on an objective during a platoon live-fire exercise Sept. 10, 2021, on a range at Fort Carson. (Photo by Capt. Tobias Cukale)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted M1 Abrams (M1A2) and M2 Bradley (M2A3) gunnery followed by a platoon live-fire exercise in preparation for deployment readiness at Fort Carson.
This training certified Soldiers, vehicle crews and platoons to be effective in their abilities to safely engage and destroy the enemy. The event was the culmination of three weeks of training as the unit certified and trained Soldiers to be effective with their abilities to complete missions and be lethal.
“Making sure that we are able to be lethal on all our weapon systems — and then maneuvering those weapon systems around in the platoon live-fire scenarios (is imperative),” said 1st Lt. Spencer Pavia, platoon leader, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., 3rd ABCT.
The Soldiers focused on proficiency in their skill set and their abilities with various weapon systems in gunnery and platoon live fire, and they seemed to benefit from the training.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A squad with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, advances through a trench Sept. 10, 2021, during platoon live-fire exercises on a range at Fort Carson. (Photo by Capt. Tobias Cukale)
“Coming out here and actually (completing the battle drills), like going into a trench and platoon live fire; you go over all the battle drills,” said Pfc. Jacob Kelly, squad automatic weapon gunner, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., 3rd ABCT.
The brigade conducted gunnery to qualify its crews, develop cohesion and practice firing its main weapons systems.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A squad with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, advances into a trench Sept. 10, 2021, during platoon live-fire exercises on a range at Fort Carson. (Photo by Capt. Tobias Cukale)