Garryowen Troops Train to Fight

Photo By Creighton Holub | Pvt. 1st Class Edward Stow, a Bradley driver from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-7 Cavalry, uploads a TOW missile into the launcher. The timed process was completed in 23 seconds from start to finish.  

06.01.2006

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Troopers from the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment received their Bradley fighting vehicles for Christmas and, as a follow-up New Years gift, began training with the New Equipment Testing unit on every phase of their new rides.

The Bradley NET Team, based in Fort Hood, Texas, began immersing the Long Knife Soldiers in every aspect of Bradley operations in what will end up as a 43-day certification program.

"We will take them from an introduction of the vehicle, to preventive maintenance checks and services, to loading and unloading the weapons systems, to eventually driving and firing during qualification during the Table 8 phase," explained Tony Orozco, Team Seven assistant lead with the NET team.

"We've got a three-to-one ratio of Soldiers to instructors; that's one instructor for every crew. We run 24-7 operations around the clock, and all of our Bradley instructors have extensive experience with the system and are fully-qualified on it," added Orozco.

Since the Army combined the 11B and 11M military occupational specialties, or dismounted and mounted infantry, the need for total immersion is essential in getting all the Bradley crews on the same page, explained Staff Sgt. Brandon Dockery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Master Gunner.

"The formerly dismounted infantry have to learn a whole new mounted way of conducting operations, and vice-versa. It will make the infantryman more diverse in the future, but takes time and practice," Dockery added.

"A lot of these guys have never been on a Bradley before; this gives them full training, from start to finish," said Sgt. 1st Class Russell Borea, A Co., 2-7 Cavalry, 2nd platoon sergeant.

Dockery agreed, "This type of training gives the crew the individualized attention that they need; good hands-on training instead of just classroom instruction."

The NET teams consist of a majority of former Bradley operators and are called in to train Soldiers every time that a unit fields new equipment or receives an upgrade to existing equipment, according to Orozco. They are contracted to remain at Fort Bliss for a period of six months.

"As one 43-day class ends, we start another, and another company rotates through. Our end state is getting the entire 4th BCT qualified and proficient on their vehicles," he concluded.

• Date Taken: 06.01.2006
• Date Posted: 06.01.2006 11:15
• Story ID: 6626