19K Armor crewmen learn from failures, grow from experience

FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 27, 2015) -- More than 70 Soldiers of B Company, 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment, conducted end-of-cycle gunnery May 18-25 at Hastings Range as part of 19K Armor crewman one station unit training.

"It definitely makes you feel better, or more invincible when you're riding around in a 68 and a half ton tank with armor and rounds (that) can hit up to two miles away," said Pvt. John Savoy.

Soldiers fired the main gun on M1A2 and M1A1 Abrams tanks, fired M240 machine guns from the loader's station, engaged targets with a .50-caliber flex machine gun and refueled an M1-series tank.

The purpose of the training is to instill confidence in the tank's capabilities, the Soldier, and the man to the left and right of him, said Staff Sgt. Ian Workman, master gunner, 194th Armored Brigade.

"When we get to our units, and we ship out or deploy, it'd be nice for (our crewmembers) to know they can rely on you and count on you because you know what you're doing, you know every position," Savoy said. "Just in case you get thrown into (a different position) or something should happen, you know what you're doing."

With the tank commander giving instructions, Soldiers learned to keep their composure, listen to the tank commander, and perform their duties quickly and efficiently, Workman said.

At Hastings Range, Soldiers operated from a defensive position, where they shot a stationary or moving tank prop, depending on the target platform presented to them. They also performed an offensive co-axial engagement and one night main gun engagement.

Savoy said during the exercise he learned confidence from failures, such as what not to do when the ammo door is open.

"If the driver can't get you there, then you're not going to be able to hit the target, or if something happens and the driver can't turn then everybody is kind of in trouble," he said. "Then, the loader, if he can't load the round fast enough, then the other tanks that have the automatic loader (have the advantage), and with the gunner, we have to wait (for the tank commander's order) and wait for the loader to be ready so we don't endanger anybody."

The emphasis on teamwork and understanding the different roles involved in operating a tank was Savoy's takeaway from the training.

"Also, teamwork - very, very crucial," he said. "It's all one big group effort. When everybody can pull together and make the right decisions and call the right numbers out, then there's no way (we) can be beat."

Workman said through executing the exercises, the Soldiers learn the fundamentals and understand how the tank operates and how they operate within that tank.

"We're actually having them here in the gunner's position so that they understand how the tank operates, so you can shoot a machine gun on the move and still hit troop targets," Workman said.

The favorite part of the training for Savoy was his realization of the power of the tank - the moment he said 'on the way,' squeezed the trigger and felt the round take off out of the main gun. He said there is a big difference between hearing tanks go off in the distance and physically being the one who pulled the trigger.

"When you're in the tank and you feel the power behind the main gun, it just makes you love your job that much more," Savoy said.