Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, provides overwatch during training on Fort Carson Sept. 24, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
By Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, confirmed their ability using Table 12 to validate their lethality Sept. 24, 2016.
Cavalry gunnery tables are designed to develop and test the proficiency of individual, crew and section gunnery techniques. Table 12 is a training scenario where cavalry platoons work together to defeat an enemy force and is the culmination of months of training.
“What you saw (Sept. 24, 2016) was us moving through a lane coordinating fires with the reconnaissance platoon and moving up to an attack by fire position and engaging enemy armor threats in sector and destroying with lethality,” said 1st Lt. Chase Huggins, platoon leader, Troop E, 2nd Sqdn. 1st Cav. Reg., 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
The troop had the overwatch position, armed with tube launched, optically tracked, wire guided weapon systems (TOW), it had the ability to destroy any heavy armored threat such as tanks.
The TOW missile can penetrate through 430 mm of armor and is guided by signals sent through wires connected between the missile and a guidance mechanism.
“I have never fired a live TOW before so actually going through the motions, loading it, setting it and firing it, that was a learning experience,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Roberts, Troop E section sergeant.
The Soldiers spent five days in the field working up to the live fire, proving to their leaders and themselves that they were ready to take the fight to the enemy wherever they are.
“Repeatability of perfect training, as perfect as it can get, gets you better at what you do,” said Spc. Jason Fernandez, gunner, Troop E. “I think we can get the job done. I am really confident in my platoon, the assets we have and our equipment.”