Soldiers from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank Gunnery live fires to qualify on their platform from Sept. 29- Oct. 4, 2025 on Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria. The training focused on developing individual crews, target engagement skills and maneuverability. Abrams live-fire exercises increase the lethality of crews on collective tables while generating warfighting readiness and combat credible forces along NATO’s Eastern Flank.
The tradition of firing the cannon dates back centuries to when artillery played a central role in warfare and military signaling, allowing Soldiers to communicate over the din of fighting. Over time, firing the canon evolved into a formal gesture of honor.
