Photo By Sgt. Nicholas Goodman | U.S. Army Soldiers with 2nd Platoon(War Devils), Battle Company, 3rd battalion 8th...... read more read more
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Fort Cavazos, Texas, Sept. 20, 2024 – Clouds of dust swirl as they dissipate into the heat, casting a haze over the rugged terrain, where thunderous booms echo for miles from 72-ton beasts of metal—gunnery. A swell of tension, pride, and anticipation resides within the protection of Combat Vehicle Crewman Helmet Systems. It’s the time of year when crews validate their skills on their unit’s gunnery qualifications tables. For a specific crew in the War Devil Platoon, Battle Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, these emotions are amplified, as it marks every member's first M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams crew qualification gunnery in their new respective positions.
Spc. Ezequiel Ibarrondo from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, serves as the new 2-2’s Abrams main gun system operator for this first-time qualifying crew. Enlisted as an infantryman (11B) for the Army, he transferred from 3-8 Cav’s Chaos Company to Battle Company to assume this role.
“I was a driver for a Bradley during my first gunnery,” said Ibarrondo. “Now I’m a gunner for a tank. Not only have I been figuring out a new weapons system, but learning a new MOS, role, and tables has impacted my perspective.”
Under the current integrated weapons strategy, crews must be certified in six gunnery tables: Table I – Gunnery Skills Test (GST); Table II – Simulations (AGTS); Table III – Proficiency to train with live rounds; Table IV – Basic skills of the platform; Table V – Practice; and Table VI – Qualification for crews to participate in live-fire exercises.
“We are still just learning our roles,” said Ibarrondo, with a new driver and loader fresh from their One Station Unit Training (OSUT) in Fort Moore, Ga. "Only our tank commander (TC) has any experience with operating tanks, and it’s even his first time in this position. However, it’s been obvious to all of us that communication and knowledge has skyrocketed since we have been out here engaging in our duties in this field environment.”
Accompanying Ibarrondo on the 2-2 crew are his TC, Sgt. Harry Katz; loader, Pvt. Nicholas Langston; and driver, Pvt. Leon Houston. Katz, the only one of the four with actual gunnery experience, has a positive outlook on the growth he has witnessed from his crew through the recent gunnery tables.
“Table I was rough; with the two new guys we got from OSUT, the GST was tough,” said Katz. “When we moved to Table II, AGTS, it was Ibarrondo's first time behind the gun and my first time as a TC. We spent four hours just struggling—what else would you expect? But when we started Table III as a crew, we had a few hiccups—nothing we wouldn't learn from. We just finished Table IV yesterday, and it’s night and day with our improvements. I have no doubt that as we prepare for Table V, and with Table VI in a few days, we are going to absolutely crush it and hopefully score as the top tank.”
As the 2-2 crew rides off to take on their Table V qualifications, they are eager to use what they have learned, as well as continue their growth of knowledge to prepare for the upcoming Table VI final qualifications, reflecting on their journey thus far. Each member has not only adapted to new roles but also forged strong bonds through shared challenges. With a renewed sense of purpose and a will to hone their new craft, this crew looks forward to the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and readiness in live-fire exercises, embodying the spirit of teamwork and resilience that defines their mission.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2024 15:46 |
| Story ID: | 481541 |
| Location: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | LOMAS DE TRUJILLO ALTO, PR |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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