By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Raymond Carter, Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander for 4th Squadron, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, calls out a command before moving out to the firing area during gunnery VI training at Fort Carson Feb. 28, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted gunnery training to develop combat skills and maintain weapons proficiency at Fort Carson March 2, 2018.
The range consisted of multiple firing tables and a final qualification. Throughout the training, Soldiers were evaluated on proficiency to engage targets from various positions within the M1A2 Abrams Tank.
“Today, we have Iron Soldiers of 4-10 CAV conducting tank (gunnery) Table VI, which is a qualification designed to certify the crew and prepare them for combat operations,” said Col. Michael J. Simmering, commander, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.
An M1A2 tank crew typically consists of four Soldiers who rely on each other to destroy enemy vehicles, emplacements and positions.
“When you look at what they are doing daily, it comes down to four Soldiers in a tank to coordinate their actions in order to make the tank move quickly, fire quickly and destroy whatever targets are presented,” said Simmering. “Those are the primary areas of concentration you look at when you’re at the range.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers of 4th Squadron, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson March 2, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
In addition to acquiring and engaging targets, practicing range safety is also paramount during weapons qualification, said Staff Sgt. Ian Brown, tank commander, Troop D, 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg.
“The No. 1 thing out here we push is safety,” said Brown. “We have to ensure we keep all Soldiers safe while we are training. A lot of the training we do is repetitive and becomes muscle memory, but we can’t get complacent when it comes to safety.”
Brown constantly reinforces proper communication between the tank commander, the driver, ammo loader and gunner to prevent any errors while training.
“The goal is to ensure everyone knows what their role is,” said Brown. “Communication allows us to ensure safety as well. A tank crew must qualify as a team to ensure they can operate together efficiently while successfully locating, engaging, and destroying targets.”
With a rotation of new Soldiers coming in, concurrent training provides an opportunity to maintain skills as a team, Brown noted.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Joseph Steiner, forward signal support sergeant, 4th Squadron, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, check the score for qualified crews during gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson Feb. 28, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
“Although we do a lot of training, it doesn’t get old,” said Brown. “You learn something new about your team, your equipment or your vehicle. You’re able to build a bond every time.”
Table VI gives Bradley Fighting Vehicle and M1 Abrams Tank crews a chance to hone their skills as a team and prepare for future collective gunnery qualification tables.
“I’m extremely proud of my Soldiers’ performance after returning back from Eastern Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve,” said Simmering. “Our last equipment got back here on Jan. 8, 2018, and on Jan. 22, 2018, our first
Soldiers rolled out and shot gunnery. There has been a steady stream of Soldiers getting after the training. Quite honestly, it has been so impressive. It’s our job to be ready to go at any given time. Being ready to go now is the message we push out to our formation.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Staff Sgt. Derek Myers, left, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander, and Spc. Shane Hullen, a cavalry scout, both with Troop C, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct communications checks on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle for gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson Feb. 28, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. Dennis Garcia, cavalry scout, Troop C, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, prepares a Bradley Fighting Vehicle for gunnery Table VI by loading 7.62 rounds into the coax chute at Fort Carson Feb. 28, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pfc. Lloyd Carmelo, a calvary scout, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, carries ammunition to a Bradley Fighting Vehicle for gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson Feb. 28, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. Shane Hullen, cavalry scout, Troop C, 4th Squadron, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts communications checks on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle for gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson Feb. 28, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pvt. Keith Stevenson, a tanker, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, puts on his gear in preparation for gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson March 2, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Soldier for 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, guides an M1A2 Tank commander to a maintenance area after his crew qualified during gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson March 2, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)