Photo By Sgt. Bailey Kramer | Staff Sgt. Bane, a tank commander for Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment,...... read more read more
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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - “Move right! Move right! Go, go, go!”
These are the most common commands heard from tank commanders to gunners when walking into the Close Combat Tactical Trainer here, during the three-day training event for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division tank crews competing for the Sullivan Cup.
Soldiers are always training, but these eight Soldiers are preparing themselves for the upcoming Sullivan Cup Precision Gunner Competition at Fort Benning, Ga.
The Maneuver Center of Excellence is holding the first ever Sullivan Cup Precision Gunnery Competition May 7 to 11, and one of our tank crews is participating.
“It is my vision that this competition grows in the upcoming years,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas James, the 46th Chief of Armor. “It is a great way to show case the professionalism and lethality of the United States Armor Force.”
Ten crews are participating in this four-day challenge full of events to test the crew’s precision gunnery skills for a chance to be named the best of the best, according to the flier advertising the event.
At the end of February, Ironhorse began their search for the “best” Ironhorse tank crew. With four crews nominated, an internal brigade competition was held, selecting the winning crew.
“Remember, just because you weren’t the chosen crew that doesn’t mean you aren’t a great crew,” Command Sgt. Maj. Lance Lehr, the most senior non-commissioned officer of the Ironhorse Brigade, said when announcing the qualifying crews. “You were chosen from your companies and battalion above your peers.”
Although the competition is not until May, the chosen Ironhorse crews flew to Grafenwoehr, Germany to continue training for a successful event.
Camp Buehring has tank simulators, but their focus is on gunnery skills. The simulators at Grafenwoehr, challenged the Soldiers by incorporating maneuvering skills and drills.
The mornings began at 8 a.m., walking into the gated area the crews were suddenly surrounded by white CCTT trailers. Finding their trailer, the crews walked inside and started their training.
“I was excited to get started,” said Spc. Sam Garcia, a tank loader assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment of the Ironhorse Brigade.
The young Ironhorse tankers grew up on the M1A2 tanks, but the CCTT simulators are designed for the M1A1. The two tanks are similar in style, but the M1A1 is an older model, so it has less advanced technology and is different than what the crews were used to.
“The technology is a little older so it took a little getting used to,” said Garcia, a native to Chicago, Ill. “But once I started to get the hang of it, it felt natural.”
Although many of the attending Soldiers are young tankers, not all are new to the M1A1 model.
“The last time I was on an M1A1 was back when I was a private,” chuckled Sgt. 1st Class Oscar Ayala, a platoon sergeant assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment of the Ironhorse Brigade. “It was fun to compare the two systems.”
The Sullivan Cup will be a tanker focused event, Ayala explained.
“This will be a great advantage to our younger tankers. They will be able to perform and learn at a [higher level],” Ayala continued.
The soldiers are excited about what they have learned and anxious to get to the next step, the competition.
“The training was very informative,” Garcia said. “I learned a lot of valuable information that will help me with my future as a tanker, and I am excited about the Sullivan Cup coming up in May.”
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2012 13:49 |
| Story ID: | 86305 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, BW, DE |
| Web Views: | 295 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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