USS SAN ANTONIO, At Sea – Since the arrival of 2nd Tank Battalion Marines and their M1A1 Abrams tanks aboard the USS San Antonio, Feb. 1, Marines have been utilizing their time on ship to maintain their combat effectiveness.
Sgt. John Ramson, a platoon sergeant with Delta Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, has found ways to keep his Marines engaged and ready for any operational commitment.
“While aboard, we have been conducting gunnery work ups, which are required to keep the Marines’ skills sharp when it is time for gunnery skills test, which is a semi-annual certification test,” explained Ramson.
“The training is focused on training whole crews and individual Marines,” continued the Rice Lake, Wis., native.
When they aren’t conducting preemptive unloading drills with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, the Marines of 2nd Tanks can be found in the upper vehicle deck mastering their weapon systems.
“Usually you’ll find the Marines on the vehicle deck with their weapons out cleaning, assembling and disassembling them, or they’re in the berthings giving classes on tank operations and Exercise Bold Alligator 2012,” said Cpl. Christopher Garcia, an M88 Recovery Vehicle driver and Orlando, Fla., native.
In addition to the various classes and training session, Marine have also kept up with their physical fitness requirements and diets while at sea.
“A lot of us go to one of the various gyms on the ship and work out,” Garcia explained.
Whether on land or sea, the training never ceases for the 2nd Tanks Marines who continue to aim to keep all of their Marines certified and to seek self improvement to better their skills as tankers.