By 2nd Lt. Anthony Sciuva
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division
FORT HOOD, Texas - Forty-four tankers earned the traditional steak-and-eggs meal after successfully completing several tank gunnery tables in May.
Soldiers from "Comanche" Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, completed a Tank Stabilized Gunnery through Gunnery Table IX at four ranges in the Fort Hood training area. All 11 crews qualified on their first attempt for Table VI.
The meal of steak and eggs is a longstanding armor tradition going back more than 30 years, said 1st Sgt. Jason Wozniak, Company C first sergeant and a native of Denver, Colorado. But it is only offered if tankers qualify during their first attempt.
The Soldiers executed gunnery skills testing, advanced gunnery training system, and Gunnery Table I, while simultaneously conducting mission support operations across Fort Hood. At GST, the Soldiers disassembled/assembled all crew-served weapons and practiced misfire procedures. At GT I, the Soldiers dropped the breech and tested on all crew drills, including fire and evacuation drills.
"Identified, enemy troops," said Sgt. Kendar Antoine, a gunner with 3rd Platoon, Company C, and a native of Brooklyn, New York, during the training scenario.
It was a common declaration from those who were in the gunner's seat. Gunners must properly identify the target and receive the command of execution from the tank commander before they can begin firing on the target.
After GT II, GT III/IV, and GT V were complete, the most important qualification table was looming in the near future for the tankers. GT VI, a crew qualification, is 10 engagements over a period of six days and four nights. All of the training and hard work put in before this point could be rendered meaningless were Soldiers unable to qualify on this table. Many tankers would say that the added stress of Table VI is similar to that of competing in an important sporting event.
"It's our Super Bowl," said Sgt. Justin Jarvis of 1st Platoon, Company C and native of Bradenton, Florida.
That night, training overcame nerves as tank crewmen qualified on Table VI and were rewarded with bellies full of steak and eggs cooked by Wozniak.
"I feel extremely comfortable executing tank operations in a combat zone because of the excellent performance demonstrated by our Soldiers," said 1st Lt. Logan Bridgeford of 2nd Platoon, Company C, and a native of Omaha, Nebraska. "They truly are the best."
"Comanche" Company produced the top tank in the battalion with the executive officer's tank, shooting a 975 out of 1,000 and qualifying in 10 of 10 engagements. The crew had been together for less than a month.
The executive officer of Company C, 1st Lt. Freddy Mitchell said, "The crew demonstrated their proficiency as tankers, and the performance during GT VI was the only validation they needed. Top tank!"
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