Photo By Sgt. Lisa Vines | A M1A2 Abrams tank assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st...... read more read more
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DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland - As the sun rises and the fog lifts, Soldiers mill about and prepare their tanks, awaiting the clear-to-fire call from range control.
Tanker crews assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (2-8 CAV), 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, executed their qualification tables at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, Aug. 16, 2018.
“Right now we’re finishing up our dry runs for crew qualification and going into our live fire accuracy screening test to ensure the weapons fire effectively and efficiently, every round,” said U.S. Army Staff. Sgt. William Freincle, a squad leader assigned third platoon, Alpha Company, 2-8 CAV.
Tank crews have essentially been living in the field as part of their six-week gunnery, sleeping in their tents and on their tanks.
“We go back sometimes to do refits, and we have some weekends where we can go back, but mostly we just stay out here,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Jonna Shumate, a loader and gunner assigned to Alpha Company, 2-8 CAV. “The field is nice. It’s always peaceful.”
Compared to their home station at Fort, Hood, Texas, these Soldiers are spending a lot more time together. Living, working and training together creates a unique environment where crews can bond.
“I like this because you spend more time with your crew, and it's morale building. You know how the other people work so you just function better when you’re in a situation like this,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Elijah Golden, a driver and loader assigned to Alpha Company, 2-8 CAV.
Spending more time together creates cohesion that you can’t always achieve in garrison.
“I live no more than five to ten feet from everyone on my crew, so I would have to say that the cohesion is a lot easier,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Davin Hanley, a tank crew member training as a gunner assigned to Alpha Company, 2-8 CAV.
Not only are the close-quarters a change, but so is the environment. Training in Poland is a significant change from Texas, but the terrain is a welcomed adjustment.
“It’s a beautiful country. I like the rolling terrain,” said U.S. Army Lt. Eric Warren, the platoon leader for third platoon, Alpha Company, 2-8 CAV. “It’s interesting and it gives us something new. The terrain is very different here than back at Fort Hood, Texas. It creates a whole different element for us and gives us more of an idea of what it would be like to move through different terrain and have to face different obstacles.”
Soldiers are also becoming accustomed to the local range control standards, which are different from the standards from home.
“Each country, they like to train in a slightly different way, and we as Americans find a way to work with any partners,” said Warren.
The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, is deployed across Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve, a demonstration of commitment to NATO allies and partners of the United States’ dedication to enduring peace in the region.
The units are using this non-combat deployment opportunity to develop diverse training strategies. Soldiers have the chance to grow confident in their skills and their teams. Tankers in the 2-8 CAV are proud of their skillset.
“Well, it’s the greatest job there ever was,” said Freincle.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2018 03:24 |
| Story ID: | 289926 |
| Location: | DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, PL |
| Web Views: | 600 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, In close quarters: 2-8 tankers live where they fight, by SGT Lisa Vines, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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