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By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
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FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pfc. Jacob D. Cobb, an infantryman and gunner for 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, puts on combat gear to qualify during his gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson March 6, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers have various reasons on why they joined the military.
Pfc. Jacob D. Cobb, an infantryman and gunner for 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, entered the Army to change his life.
“I wanted to do something different with my life,” said Cobb. “I wanted an adventure. I asked myself what better way to serve my country and travel?”
Cobb enlisted in the military two years ago.
“I have an aunt who was also in the military,” said Cobb. “She influenced me to go forward in my decision to serve. She (accompanied) me to a recruiting station and also laid out the path for me.”
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FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pfc. Roberto Mendoza, left, an infantryman and a driver, and Sgt. Timothy Kirkendall, vehicle commander, both with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct final checks on their Bradley Fighting Vehicle during gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson, March 6, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
When Cobb went to the military entrance processing (MEPS), he was faced with choosing a military occupation, he had two choices based on availability. He could become an infantryman or an intelligence specialist.
“I chose infantry because I felt it better suits me,” said Cobb. “I wanted to start off with infantry to see how it is, and so far I love my job and what I do.”
Cobb became a gunner during the Atlantic Resolve mission in Eastern Europe.
“I learned how to be a gunner while we were deployed,” said Cobb. “I learned how to operate the gun and maintain the turret. With all of the (training) we had prior to Atlantic Resolve, it really paid off and ensured I was successful for the mission. I am really appreciative of that.”
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FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Soldier with Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts gunnery Table VI at Fort Carson March 6, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
In a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, there is a three-man crew where members work together to destroy enemy targets. The crew positions are the commander, driver and gunner.
The position of the gunner on the Bradley is located on the left side of the turret, a large segment on top of the Bradley equipped with a machine gun and a 30 millimeter primary weapon.
Cobb’s work ethic and dedication to the mission did not go unnoticed by his supervisor.
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FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pfc. Jacob D. Cobb, an infantryman and a gunner for 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, puts combat gear in preparation to qualify during his gunnery Table VI training at Fort Carson, March 6, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
“Cobb is a very hard working Soldier,” said Sgt. Timothy Kirkendall, a vehicle commander for Company B, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. “He definitely loves his job, and you can tell by his excellent performance. He’s one of the best Soldiers I’ve had so far in my career, especially as a gunner.”
Soldiers who are dedicated to their occupation enhance the crew’s combat readiness.
“As a gunner, you have a lot of responsibilities,” said Kirkendall. “A gunner has to ensure the guns are ready, getting the tracks on line and ensuring the driver has all of their stuff ready to go.
It makes it easier for me as a vehicle commander to handle other responsibilities when you have Soldiers who display leadership capabilities and take on responsibilities, which just makes us more ready and effective on the battlefield.”