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Maintaining Lethality: Regulars conduct Sustainment Gunnery in the Black Sea Region

By Spc. Trevares Johnson and Maj. Arturo RodriguezOctober 4, 2023

Maintaining Lethality: Regulars conduct Sustainment Gunnery in the Black Sea Region
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, forward deployed to the Black Sea region in support of the 10th Mountain Division, ground-guide Bradley fighting vehicles to the firing line during their sustainment gunnery exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria on September 28, 2023. Through rigorous training and evaluation, the battalion aims to keep above 90% of qualified crews. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Trevares Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maintaining Lethality: Regulars conduct Sustainment Gunnery in the Black Sea Region
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Johnson and Sgt. Nicholas Jones, infantrymen assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, forward deployed to the Black Sea region, man a Bradley fighting vehicle during a sustainment gunnery exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria on September 28, 2023. The sustainment gunnery exercise plays a vital role in maintaining lethality by identifying and addressing any gaps in crew qualifications. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Trevares Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maintaining Lethality: Regulars conduct Sustainment Gunnery in the Black Sea Region
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Bradley Fighting Vehicle with the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, fires rounds downrange during a sustainment gunnery at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria on September 28, 2023. According to the battalion commander, U.S. Amy Lt. Col. Trinidad Chavez, qualified crews are the foundation for collective training. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Trevares Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maintaining Lethality: Regulars conduct Sustainment Gunnery in the Black Sea Region
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Jones, an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, forward deployed to the Black Sea region in support of the 10th Mountain Division, prepares rounds during a gunnery exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria. 1-6 Infantry Regiment is assigned to the Multinational Division Southeast Battle Group, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, training with multinational NATO allies and partners. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Trevares Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maintaining Lethality: Regulars conduct Sustainment Gunnery in the Black Sea Region
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 7.62mm x 392mm rounds awaiting to be fired by the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, during their sustainment gunnery exercise at the Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria from September 27 - October 2, 2023. The sustainment gunnery exercise plays a vital role in maintaining lethality and readiness by identifying and addressing any gaps in crew qualifications. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Trevares Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL

NOVO SELO, Bulgaria - The 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division recently conducted a sustainment gunnery exercise to ensure a high level of readiness among their Bradley’s and weapon systems. The exercise focused on maintaining a forecast of Bradley crews, allowing them to keep above 90% of qualified crews in the battalion.

According to the battalion commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trinidad Chavez, qualified crews are the foundation for collective training. He emphasized the importance of having qualified crews, stating, "If we don't have qualified crews, then we can't conduct platoon or company live fire training." The sustainment gunnery exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining the readiness of these crews.

"When our crews are qualified, that means they are masters of their platform," added Lt. Col. Chavez. He further highlighted the significance of this qualification, stating, "Then we can cross-train and work with the EVA battle group and other NATO allies." The exercise not only ensures the proficiency of the crews but also enables them to collaborate effectively with allied forces.

Master Gunner U.S. Master Sgt. James McCann, assigned to 1-6 Infantry Regiment, also emphasized the value of the sustainment gunnery exercise. He stated, "This exercise allows us to identify and address any deficiencies in crew qualifications." By identifying and rectifying these deficiencies, the battalion can maintain a high standard of readiness and ensure the success of future missions.

The sustainment gunnery exercise is designed to challenge the crews and push them to their limits. It includes various scenarios and simulated combat situations to test their skills and decision-making abilities. The exercise not only focuses on individual crew qualifications but also on their ability to work as a cohesive unit.

Through rigorous training and evaluation, the battalion aims to keep above 90% of qualified crews. This ensures that they have a strong foundation for collective training and can effectively execute their mission requirements. The sustainment gunnery exercise plays a vital role in achieving this goal by identifying and addressing any gaps in crew qualifications.

The 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division remains committed to maintaining a high level of readiness and ensuring the proficiency of their crews. The sustainment gunnery exercise is just one of the many training initiatives undertaken by the battalion to achieve these objectives. By continuously honing their skills and qualifications, the battalion stands ready to support future operations and contribute to the overall readiness of the U.S. Army.

Currently, 1-6 Infantry Regiment is assigned to the Multinational Division Southeast Battle Group, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, supporting the 10th Mountain Division, training with multinational NATO allies and partners in Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria.

The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team maintains many combat-capable forces in Europe. It exists to deter aggression; if deterrence fails, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Allies and partners against that aggression. The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, headquarters is forward deployed to Drawsko Combat Training Center in Poland.