FORT HOOD, Texas - The 2nd Brigade Combat Team "Black Jack," 1st Cavalry Division gunnery exercises have begun, and with that some Black Jack cavalry scouts began preparations for crew certification by conducting live-fire exercises on a range here Sept. 23 and 24.
Approximately 60 scouts with Black Jack's 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment conducted multiple crew day and night live-fire scenarios to complete gunnery tables I - IV while preparing for tables V - VI, said 1st Lt. Ali Chouhdry, a scout platoon leader with 1-8 Cav.
Tables I - VI are gunnery exercises conducted at the squad- and crew- levels to certify the crews and prepare them for company- and battalion- level tables, said Chouhdry, an Atlanta native.
The scenario conducted was aimed at conventional tactics, or non-urban environmental type of tactics, relying on defensive and offensive measures taken against simulated enemy troops and vehicles, said Chouhdry.
Conventional methods are vital to current operations.
"This exercise fits into our future collective training," said Chouhdry. "(The scouts) will be set up for our future operational success."
Chouhdry said the success comes when the scouts build on crew relations and continue to gain additional experience.
"A lot of my scouts are new and young," Chouhdry added. "As they develop their communication and tactical skills, we can shape our standard operating procedures to be more effective to them."
Chouhdry said less than 2 percent of his scouts have prior crew experience, but that 2 percent has provided valuable knowledge and support.
"The veteran scouts are extremely beneficial as they add to tactical training and planning," said Chouhdry.
Veteran scout Spc. Daniel Sheppard with the 1-5 Cav. said the scouts within his crew are experienced with gunnery and crew tactics, but didn't take the training for granted.
"There is always something new to learn," said Sheppard, "a new skill or new trade."
Small skill sets can be forgotten, making gunnery exercise essential to retain and grow on those tactics, added Sheppard, a Riverside, California, native.
"It is the little things like crew commands, drills and scan techniques that can make the difference in crew success," said Sheppard.
Sheppard said the scanning techniques were one of most demanding skills to achieve.
"Each crew member has to scan a sector, because of the blind spots," said Sheppard. "Communication is key to ensure everyone knows what is around them."
The communication and scanning techniques are the most important lesson new scouts must master to become a cohesive unit, said Chouhdry.
"To maintain the right sector of fire and properly identify the enemy, the crew members have to be aware of what is around them and communicate with each other effectively," said Chouhdry.
Chouhdry said the communication was great and morale was high during the exercise. His confidence in his crews has grown, and he said he's proud of their accomplishments.
"We will do fine on crew certification day," added Chouhdry. "I have a lot of confidence in the crews. ... They are great."
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