Ironhorse troops prep for NTC

Courtesy Photo | Pvt. Alexander Waterman (left), an infantryman from Bay Saint Louis, Miss., and Pfc. Tanner Cockle, an infantryman from Lincoln, Neb., both with Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division pull security during Table X of level II gunnery at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jeremy Reuse, 2-8 Cav., 1st ABCT)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

07.30.2015

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Spc. Jeremy Reuse

FORT HOOD, Texas – Several M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles were poised to take their battle positions under a smoldering Texas sun. As the range went hot, the sound of numerous machine guns filled the air and dismounted troops could be seen surging towards the objective under suppressive fire.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were busy the past few weeks preparing for an upcoming rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.

The unit conducted gunnery tables VII – XII – field exercises conducted primarily at the section and platoon levels to certify crews for NTC and maintain unit readiness. Blank and live-fire scenarios were conducted by Bradley crews on ranges here at Fort Hood July 7 through 20.
Master gunner Sgt. Jose Alvarado, an Austin, Texas native with 2-8 Cav., said level II gunnery for the Bradley crews was all inclusive.

“The training incorporated offensive and defensive maneuvers in a real world situation to combat [oppositional] armored and dismounted forces.”

Crew performance at the end of Table XII is determined by the respective company commanders based on the T-P-U scoring model - “T” meaning trained, “P” meaning more practice required, and “U” meaning untrained and that a makeup gunnery would need to be scheduled for that crew to retry.

In addition to current personnel, a number of new Soldiers have recently joined the battalion from other units and Initial Entry Training. The unit’s leadership was tasked with assimilating these new faces into their companies and bringing them up to speed on unit training and expectations.

Following Table XII, six of six platoons and 12 of 12 squads qualified as “T” on the Bradley’s weapons systems. As a result, no crews will be required to retrain. Certification lasts for six months, or until a given crew is no longer together.

Sgt. 1st Class Richie Pozo, acting first sergeant, Company A, 2-8 Cav and a native of New York City, said he understands the level of competence it takes to achieve a first time go.

“Being out there in the heat – letting them go out and execute firing drills and concurrent training – helped them build those team fundamentals,” Pozo said.

Prior to this gunnery exercise, training was conducted at the company areas and around Fort Hood’s main cantonment. Training revolved around the Bradley Advanced Training System, a computer simulation that allows crews to hone their movement and firing skills.

Pozo said that preparation with BATS was instrumental in preparing Soldiers for gunnery who are new to a mounted infantry unit.

“BATS builds confidence in weapons systems, and training at the company lets the new guys get familiar with maintenance on the vehicles and equipment,” he said.

Gunnery concluded with tables X and XII, involving platoon-level blank and live fires, as well as support provided by the 91st Engineer Battalion and 1st Air Cavalry Brigade.

Veteran Soldiers from Company A, 2-8 Cav. said this gunnery provided an excellent training opportunity for new Soldiers, and Pozo echoed the sentiment that concurrent training by dismounted squads assisted in gunnery’s culmination with Table XII.

“Having the dismounts be able to apply their skills in an exercise along with the mounted guys really helped to bring the whole experience together,” he said.

Although the leadership’s approval of the gunnery and associated training is important, it’s equally as important for the junior enlisted members of these crews to embrace it.

“Tables X and XII were especially important because they were real instead of notional exercises,” said Spc. Brendon Schmidt, Company A, 2-8 Cav. and a Highlands Ranch, Colorado, native. “It let me apply the stuff we’ve been training for during the past couple of months.”

• Date Taken: 07.30.2015
• Date Posted: 08.10.2015 11:25
• Story ID: 172647
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US