The MSG Kouma Tank Gunnery Competition

The MSG Kouma Tank Gunnery Com petit ion by Sergeant First Class Robert L. Dycus and Captain Kevin L. Watson As an Active Component (AC) gunner, you've been L.. ting in your tank on BlackwelVPilot Knob Range at Fort Hood thinking, 'I know that mine is the best tank platoon in the Army, much better than those guys on Range 301 at Grafenwohr anyway ..." Of course, there's no way that you can ever determine whose platoon is best. Or, possibly, you're a reservist sitting in your tank on Range 44 at Fort Drum, about to qualify distinguished, and you're thinking, "All I hear about is how great those guys are at Gowen Field, firing their TT Vlll on Range 1. I know my platoon average is higher than theirs." Many of us have often wondered exactly where our platoon stood in the big picture. Now, thanks to an initiative of the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Gordon R. Sullivan, you will get a chance to know which are the top platoons in the total armor force. The Armor Center announces the initiation of an exciting new tank platoon competition. the Kouma Tank Platoon Gunnery Excellence Competition. The initial competition window will include February 1993-95 scores from units. The Kouma Competition is named in honor of Master Sergeant (Ret.) Ernest R. Kouma, an Armor NCO and World War I1 veteran who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exploits during an action near Agok, Korea, on 31 August and 1 September 1950. General Sullivan directed that a competition be developed to honor the top platoons in the total armored force. The competition emphasizes the "train-to-fight" guidance of General Sullivan as units are evaluated on their annual qualification gunnery tables. This competition will reward units that maintain tough, demanding, and realistic training of their soldiers, crews, and platoons. AC units will be evaluated based on the Tank Table XI1 (TT XII) contained in the recently fielded FM 17-12-1-2, which contains the standardized score sheets for reporting purposes. The new TT XI1 contains both tactical and gunnery tasks, many evaluated simultaneously. The focus on training both maneuver and gunnery tasks simultaneously reflects the Chief of Armor's guidance to integrate tactical and gunnery training. One of the more exciting aspects of the Kouma Competition is the fact that Reserve Component (RC) units will be competing alongside their AC counterparts. The difference, however, is that RC un., are evaluated on the FI 17-12- 1-2 Tank Table VI11 (rr VIII), Crew Qualification results. RC crews are required by STRAC to maintain a TT Vlll proficiency prior to mobilization and are not required to qualify their platoons on TT XII. Winners of the Kouma Competition will be determined based on annual qualification gunnery, using normal battle-rostered crews. The competition window is 24 months, since RC non-roundout (RO)/roundup (RU) units have a 24-month training cycle. The ROlRU units and AC units will report their scores for the last 12 months of the 24- month cycle. Each division, regiment, and separate brigade will determine their winners by 1 April of the competition window and report their winners to their CORPS (AC units) or Continental United States Army (CONUSA) (RC units). CORPS and CONUSAs will report their top platoons to the United States Army Armor Center and Fort Knox (USAARMC) not later than 15 April. USAARMC will determine the top AC and RC platoon by 1 May, and present the awards during the Armor Conference. While MACOMs may develop their own selection Droce-dures, USAARMC wili use the following criteria. ll Vlll (RC) High score (Individual lT Vlll scores summed and divided Tactical) by 4 for platoon average.) lT XI1 (AC) Total Score (Gunnery 8 Tiebreakers

1. Crew cuts

2. Hit times

3. Ammo conservation Tiebreakers

1. Gunnery score

2. Tactical score

3. Ammo conservation NOTE: All lT Vlll criteria are based on platoon average. I Trophies for the Kouma Competition winners will be presented during the Armor conference. USAARMC will pro-Continued on Page 38 36 ARMOR - May-June 1993

MSG Ernest Kouma's Medal of Honor MSG (Ret.) Ernest R. Kouma was born on 23 November 1919 in Dwight, Nebraska, and joined the Army on 16 June 1940. His first assignment was with the 14th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Riley, Kansas, with whom he was patrolling the Mexico/Arizona border when the United States entered World War II. He was reassigned to the newly formed 9th Armored Division as a tank crewman on an M3 Stuart. He went to California for desert training with the 9th AD and participated in the Louisiana maneuvers. At the completion of the Louisiana maneuvers, the 9th AD moved to a staging area in England, where MSG Kouma was assigned as a tank commander of an M24 Chaffee tank. The 9th AD landed in Normandy, France, in October 1944 as other Allied forces were fighting in Italy and Luxembourg. His unit was sent to Belgium and fought in the German Ardennes counteroffensive (Battle of the Bulge) in 1944. MSG Kouma's unit continued to push into Germany and captured the Ludendorff railroad bridge at Remagen, Germany, on the Rhine River in the spring of

1945. At the conclusion of hostilities in Europe, his unit was in Czechoslovakia. MSG Kouma returned to the United States and reenlisted for armor. He had assignments with the occupation forces in Korea, the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in Japan, and then he was assigned to the 17th Cavalry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington, in 1947. The 17th Cavalry Regiment was changed to the 72d Armor during his assignment at Fort Lewis. The 2d Infantry deployed to Korea for combat in August 1950 and participated in the landing at Inchon, Korea. At this time MSG Kouma was the tank commander of an M26 Pershing tank in 3d Platoon, A Company, 72d Armor, 2d Infantry Division. It was with this unit that he distinguished himself and was awarded this nation's highest honor - the Congressional Medal of Honor. Offered a battlefield commission after his actions at Agok on the Naktong River, MSG Kouma turned it down because he did not want to be removed from the real action. After being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, he was assigned to recruiting duty in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1951, and later as a tank gunnery and tactical instructor at Camp Irwin, California. Returning to recruiting in 1955, MSG Kouma was selected to be the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the pallbearers at the ceremony honoring the unknown soldiers of World War II and the Korean War, and he presented the flag to President Eisenhower. He was then assigned to the 68th Armor, 9th Infantry Division, Camp Carson, Colorado, followed by an assignment to the 70th Armor, 4th Armored Division in Germany. In 1959, he returned to the United States and the United States Army Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1963, he was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division in Germany, returning to Fort Knox after that tour. He applied for a combat tour to Vietnam, but was disapproved on the grounds that his capture could be used for propaganda purposes. After 31 years as a soldier, he retired from active duty. He now lives on Rough River lake in the quiet town of McDaniels, Kentucky. I Citation I MSG (then SFC) Kouma, a tank commander in Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His unit was engaged in supporting infantry elements on the Naktong River front. Near midnight on 31 August, a hostile force estimated at 500 crossed the river and launched a fierce attack against the infantry positions, inflicting heavy casualties. A withdrawal was ordered and his armored unit was given the mission of covering the movement until a secondary position could be established. The enemy assault overran two tanks, destroyed one and forced another to withdraw. Suddenly MSG Kouma discovered that his tank was the only obstacle in the path of the hostile onslaught. Holding his ground, he gave fire orders to his crew and remained in position throughout the night, fighting off repeated enemy attacks. During one fierce assault, the enemy surrounded his tank and he leaped from the armored turret, exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire, manned the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the rear deck. and delivered pointblank fire into the fanatical foe. His machine gun emptied, he fired his pistol and threw grenades to keep the enemy from his tank. After more than 9 hours of constant combat and close-in fighting, he withdrew his vehicle to friendly lines. During the withdrawal through 8 miles of hostile territory. WSgt. Kouma continued to inflict casualties upon the enemy and exhausted his ammunition in destroying three hostile machine gun positions. During this action, MSG Kouma killed an estimated 250 enemy soldiers. His magnificent stand allowed the infantry sufficient time to reestablish defensive positions. Rejoining his company. although suffering intensely from his wounds, he attempted to resupply his tank and return to the battle area. While being evacuated for medical treatment, his courage was again displayed when he requested to return to the front. MSG Kouma's superb leadership, heroism, and intense devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army. I ARMOR - MayJune 1993 37

Kouma Competition (continued from page 36) vide a fund cite for travel and per diem, along with billeting, for one representative of the top platoon in each CORPS and CONUSA to attend the Armor Conference. Platoon representatives will participate in all Armor Conference events as guests of the Armor community. Permanent trophies will be presented to the top platoon in each CORPS and CONUSA while the top overall AC and RC platoons will be presented with the rotating Kouma trophy. Plaques listing the winning platoons will be permanently mounted on the rotating trophy. Additionally, each member of the top platoons in each CORPS and CONUSA will receive a certificate signed by the Chief of Armor. The July-August issue of ARMOR Magazine will name the ACfRC finalists and winners of the Kouma Competition. The Kouma Competition was the brainstorm of the Army Chief of Staff, General Gordon R. Sullivan, who was searching for a method to emphasize realistic training and reward those units that excelled. The Kourna Competition was designed to be a lowcost procedure for identifying the Army's top Armor platoons while providing every platoon within the Total Armor Force with an equal opportu- n.Q to be the winner. Including RC units is vitally important because over haH of the armored force will be in the RC at the conclusion of the drawdown. By focusing on STRAC-required annual qualification results (TT XI1 for AC and TT Vlll for RC), General Sullivan pointedly emphasizes the need to train to maintain combat-ready units. The lowcost features of the Kouma Competition are attractive as we determine our top platoons without any special training required. The Kouma Competition winners will truly reflect the "come as you are" quality of our armor force, the force that will be required to rapidly deploy for various contingency missions around the world. Standardization among armor unit training will be further enhanced by the Kouma Competition as all armor platoons will be evaluated against a common criteria - the tank gunnery tables in FM 12-12-1. Maintaining our combat training focus is what the Kouma Competition is all about. Named in honor of an armored warrior, the Kouma Competition will reward those soldiers, crews, and platoons that best emulate the example set by MSG Kouma on that dark, dangerous night in Korea. Com pet it ion Deadlines First Competition Covers March 1993-March 1995 (Competition Repeats Every Two Years) 1 April 1995 - RC non-RO/RU divisions, regiments, and separate brigades determine their top platoons based on the previous two-year qualification cycle. Report winners to their parent CONUSA. - RC RO/RU divisions, regiments, and separate brigades determine their top platoons based on previous year's qualification cycle. Report winners to their parent CONUSA. - AC divisions, regiments, and separate brigades determine their top platoons based on previous year's qualifications and report winners to their CORPS. 15 April 1995 - CORPS and CONUSAs determine their winning platoons and report them to USAARMC. CORPS and CONUSAs will forward the original score sheets from the respective TT Vlll and TT XI1 qualification runs. Only first-run data is acceptable for the Kouma Award. CONUSAs need only forward the original TT Vlll score sheets while CORPS must forward the original TT XI1 score sheet plus a platoon roster with name, rank, SSN, and duty position of each platoon member. This data is required for the certificates. 1 May 1995 - USAARMC determines top AC and RC platoon. May 1995 - Armor Conference -winners announced and trophies presented. I 1 Captain Kevin L. Watson is an armor officer currently serving as the Gunnery Training and Doctrine Branch Chief, 5th Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Amy Armor School at Fort Knox, Ky. He has served as a tank platoon leader, company executive officer, battalion Sl, battalion motor officer, and company commander with 3-64 Armor in USAREUR. He received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from North Carolina State University and Masters of Public Administration from Western Kentucky University. He is slated to attend Command and General Staff College (CGSC) this summer. Sergeant First Class Robert L. Dycus is currently the M l A 2 pmject noncommissioned officer (NCO) within the Gunnery Training and Doctrine Branch, Specialty Training and Simulation Division, 16th Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army Armor School (USAARMS). Prior to his current assignment, he was a master gunner instructor at USAARMS and was a company master gunner in Europe. He has held various leadership positions within tank battalions and cavalry squadrons throughout USAREUR, CONUS, and Korea. He is a graduate of the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course (ANCOC) and the Master Gunner Course. I I 38 ARMOR - MayJune 1993