Photo By Sgt. Raul Torres | A Marine climbs aboard an M1A1 Abrams tank at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 8, 2017. 2nd...... read more read more
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Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division conducted the table four portion of their semiannual gunnery qualification at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 8, 2017.
Tank crews are evaluated by their units on how proficient they are at their jobs within the M1A1 Abrams tank. They are tested on their ability to engage the enemy while simulating combat situations.
“Everyone has their own responsibilities,” said Cpl. Austin Schutz, a gunner with Alpha Company, 2nd Tank Battalion. “The training we are doing here is to make sure that we can qualify as a crew and for each tanker to know his responsibility.”
It is important that the crew works together as a team so they understand how each member’s position works and how it affects their fellow crew members.
“Every tanker out here needs to understand his billet and the billet above him,” said Schutz. “At all times during the engagements, every tanker and every position has to understand what the whole crew has to do in order to be successful.”
The training places the tank crew into a combat mindset so they are best prepared for possible future deployments.
“This training gives us a feel as to what would happen in a combat situation,” said Lance Cpl. Terry Taylor, a driver with Alpha Company, 2nd Tank Battalion. “It helps you understand that you have to fix problems that may arise as soon as possible to get back in the fight.”
The live fire aspect of the gunnery qualification helps further influence how the Marines approach the training.
Having the adrenaline of actually shooting and conducting live-fire on the main gun gives you the feeling of actually being in combat, said Lance Cpl. Carey Defreitas, a loader with Alpha Company, 2nd Tank Battalion. He said that although no one is shooting back, it gets him going and he tries to focus on remaining calm and carrying out the engagement.
In addition to marksmanship skills with their service rifles, tankers have to maintain their M1A1 Abrams tank firing expertise.
“Just like every Marine goes to the rifle range annually, we as tankers do this,” said Defreitas. “It sharpens our gunnery skills and makes us ready for combat.”
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2017 16:56 |
| Story ID: | 226361 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 202 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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