FORT HOOD, Texas - Every year, soldiers are required to qualify on different weapons systems: pistols, rifles and grenade launchers are just a few. However, individual tank crew qualifications are also a standard.
To ensure this qualification is executed, soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division started the live fire portion of their M1A2 Abrams tank gunnery, also known as Table VI, Sept. 16, here.
The gunnery for the 1-12th soldiers started more than 10 days ago with Table II, which trains the individual soldier and crew on basic gunnery skills, to engage targets.
While staying both day and night in the training areas, the soldiers' only focus was to ensure efficiency and effectiveness with their crews and tanks.
Tables III and IV were conducted together to train and qualify the crew's capability to engage stationary and moving targets.
"We've had plenty of opportunity to get trained up on (gunnery) and we have a lot of new guys but we are ready," said Sgt. 1st Class Jose Padilla, a platoon sergeant with D Company.
Weapons mounted to the battle tank must also be evaluated.
Table V is responsible for testing and qualifying the tank-mounted automatic weapons while on a stationary and moving tank.
"It wasn't easy ... the range was set up different. It was difficult." Padilla said. "At the same time, I think it's got us ready for this range. I think it's going to work out just fine."
Tank crews lined a dusty dirt lot waiting their turn to qualify on Table VI. This table consists of eight qualifying tasks that vary from precision and timeliness while engaging a stationary or moving target. The main gun is fired during this table.
"The first engagement pretty much shows you how you're going to do the rest of the time," said Sgt. Jonathan Scott, a tank gunner with D Company, 1-12th Cav. "I'm pretty confident in how well my crew, the turret crew, will do."
Not only are these crews qualifying on their tanks but they have worked up a healthy competition as well, all shooting for "Top Tank."
To achieve top tank a crew must have the best overall qualification.
Awards and bragging rights go to the crew that have the best qual, Padilla said.
The turret crew and other crews within D Company are slated to finish their Table VI qualification this week.
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