FORT CAMPELL, Ky. -- Pfc. Pricilla Jalim, B Company, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, is the brigade's first "Top Gun," a distinguished accomplishment that recognizes her hard work and expert technical skills.
She earned the title on Friday during the Army's annual Network Integration Evaluation Training.
Jalim, a Baltimore native, joined the Army in the military occupational specialty 91E, allied trade specialist, roughly one year ago. The primary responsibility of an allied trade specialist is supervising and performing sheet metal fabrication and repair.
Company B, 526th Brigade Support Battalion is currently participating in Network Integration Exercise 17.2. This training offers a unique opportunity for the 101st Airborne Division to test, validate and advance their systems through real world, intellectually and physically challenging gunnery training. The 101st's mission is to provide highly-trained, disciplined and fit expeditionary air assault forces to conduct worldwide decisive action operations.
Jalim not only met the challenges at NIE 17.2, but exceeded her combat readiness skills training beyond all expectations to meet her unit's mission.
The Army's Training Circular Manual, Sustainment Unit Gunnery and Live Fire Exercise Strategy lays out the requirements for gunnery skills in order to meet the qualifications. The Crew Training Program consists of successfully completing seven gunnery tables.
"We did a lot of training back at [Fort] Campbell, qualification on the M240 and a weeklong training prior to coming out to Texas that helped a lot," Jalim said.
"You have to engage seven out of seven targets effectively, as well as get your entire crew commands together, correct format, according to doctrine," said Staff Sgt. Brandon E. Baldwin, Jalim's truck commander. "It starts with basic Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction, to an individual task, then to a collective task with gunner, truck commander and driver. The gunner has the biggest piece of that puzzle, however it's the [truck commander's] job to guide the gunner into the target as well as ensure the proper commands are given.
"The biggest thing that comes with becoming "Top Gun" is correcting your mistakes through your practice qualifications, your dry and live fires and blank tables, honing in on what you do to accomplish the mission and engage those targets," Baldwin added.
There were no "Top Guns" in the brigade prior to Jalim's accomplishment. Jalim will receive an Army achievement award from her commander in recognition of her distinguished accomplishment.
"If you want to win, put B Company in!" she said.
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