Initial Training of Armor Crewmen

Initial Training of Armor Crewmen by Captain Mike Benver One of a commander’s most valuable resources is the men he leads. The level of training of soldiers entering his unit is a matter of interest, and can be a matter of concern. The 1st Armored Training Brigade at Fort box, Kentucky trains all l U K , 29E, and 19D soldiers who enter the Armor Force. If commanders, platoon leaders, and senior NCOs in the field do not know what training their new soldiers have received, they waste resources training subjects already taught, and don’t expand on the soldier’s training base. My intent is to discuss the training the entry-level armor and cavalry soldier receives. I will touch upon philosophy, constraints, resources, and areas in which the new soldier will need additional training. I base this article on my observations as an OSUT company commander in a M1 training company, so it is oriented toward 1YKlO trainees. But, most of what I discuss is also applicable to 19E10 and l9DlO trainees. TRADOC Reg 350-6 contains U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) guidance, policies, and responsibilities for managing and conducting IET (initial entry training). This consists of basic combat training (BT), one station unit training (OSUT), advanced individual training (AIT), and any other formal armor training received before the award of a military occupational specialty (MOS).

The objectives of the IET program, as stated in 350-6, are to - 0Promote and instill in the new soldier the highest degree of individual responsibility and self-discipline. 0 Establish the pride and dignity of being a soldier in the United States Army. 0 Promote and accelerate the transition from civilian to soldier. .Develop in the new soldier an understanding of the Army system and the role of the individual in accomplishing the Army’s mission. 0Develop in the new soldier knowledge and understanding of Army customs, hcritage, and traditions. .Provide the new soldier the knowledge, skills, and task proficiency so that the soldier can immediately contribute the unit’s mission and survive on tile battlefield. 0 Provide the Army with soldiers who are physically fit. Soldiers completing IET will demonstrate the attainment of the above listed objectives when they - 0 Demonstrate the strength, stamina, and agility to perform the common skills and MUS tasks trained in IET. 0 Demonstrate the desire and accept the need to apply themselves to accomplish assigned tasks. 0Understand and adhere to their enlistment obligation, including the Oath of Enlistment, and their roles as soldiers. .Be devoted to the Army in its defense of the United States and the principles embodied in the Constitution. 0 Know and abide by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and other statutes and applicable rules and regulations. The above objectives and standards are literally part of the regulation. The 19-series IET soldiers are trained with the One Station Unit Training (OSUT) method. They report to the 46th Ad,jutant General Battalion (Reception), are in-processed and then go to their OSUT company. The M1 and M6OA3 OSUT companies train these soldiers (19K10, 19ElO) for 14 weeks. The Cavalry Squadron (19D10) trains its soldiers 13 weeks, or 14, if the soldier receives one week additional training on the M3. Once training is completed, the newly-trained soldier goes to his initial assignment in a line bat-taliodsquadron. 1st Armored Training Brigade has four training battalions, two training squadrons, and a H&S company. Each battalion consists of three or four line companies and a headquarters company. Two battalions train 19Ks, two battalions train 19Es and two squadrons train 19Ds. H&S supports the entire brigade. Each battalion/squadron has three or four OSUT companies and a headquarters company. ~~ 42 ARMOR - September-October 7 988 I

An OSUT company is a lean organization: company commander, executive officer, first sergeant, training NCO, supply sergeant, clerk, and 10 drill sergeants. Depending on the fill, you will have 1-30-165 IET soldiers. The fill varies from cycle to cycle, and the OSUT company can have four or five platoons. Normally, cycles picked up during the summer, fall, and early winter have large fills. Midwinter and early spring fills are smaller. The goal of 1st ATB is to train soldiers to basic-level standards. Their initial assignment should bring them up to journeyman-level standards. When soldiers leave Fort Knox, they are trained drivers, and loaders, and are familiar with the gunner's station. To ensure quality training, soldiers take five different tests. There are three Graduated Armor Test and Evaluations (GATE), and an end-of-cycle Military Stakes Test. In addition, all soldiers must pass the APFT before graduation. To ensure quality control, Testing and Evaluation, a Fort Knox organization independent of 1st ATB, tests the soldiers. The GATE test consists of the skills to the right. There are many more skills not on the GATE tests that drill sergeants and tank commanders test. When the soldier arrives in the unit, he has been in the Army for three - five days. He has been in-processed, received his initial shots, some initial classes, and a uniform. His first four weeks of training are all basic soldier skills: D&C, First Aid, Basic Rifle Marksmanship (familiarization for 19K10 and 19E10, and qualification for 19DtO), NBC (to include a chamber exercise), M9 pistol, mines, GATE - Graduate Armor Test and Evaluation rask Number 031 -503-1 007 03 1-503-1 01 2 031-503-1018 031 -503-1 021 051-191-1361 071-331 -0050 071-331 -0051 071-331-0052 071 -331 -0801 081-831-1000 081 -831 -1 005 081-831-1016 081-831-1030 081 -831 -1 034 081 -831 -1 035 081 -831 -1 036 081 -831 -1 042 113-571-1016 071-329-1001 071-329-1002 071-329-1003 071-329-1008 071 -331 -0803 1 13-587-2043 113-622-201 1 171-122-1015 171-126-1001 171-126;1007 171 -1 26-1 008 171 -1 26-1 01 2 171-156-1041 171-1 26-1052 171-122-101 1 171-122-1017 171-126-1023 171-126-1024 171-126-1027 171-126-1029 171-126-1030 171-126-1038 Tas WSubject Type Test Decontaminate Your Skin and Personal Equipment Put On, Wear, Remove, and Store the M24, M25 or M25A1 Protective Mask With Hood React to Nuclear Hazard Mark NBC Contaminated Area Camouflage Yourself and Your Individual Equipment React to Inspecting Officer Summon Commander of Relief Challenge Unknown Persons (night) Use Challenge and Password Evaluate a Casualty Prevent Shock Put on a Field Or Pressure Dressing Administer Nerve Agent Antidote to Self Splint a Suspected Fracture Protect Yourself Against Heat Protect Yourself Against Cold Perform Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation Send a Radio Message Drill and Ceremony (Marching) Execute Drill Movement Without Arms Identify Terrain Features on a Map Determine the Grid Coordinates of a Point on a Military Map Using the Military Grid Reference System Determine a Magnetic Azimuth Using a Compass Measure Distance on a Map Collect/Report Information - SALUTE Prepare/Operate FM Radio Sets Operate Intercommunication Set ANNIC-1 on a Tracked Vehicle Clear an M240 Machinegun to Prevent Accidental Discharge on an Ml/MlAl Tank StarVStop the Engine on an Ml/MlAl Tank Prepare Driver's Station for Operation on an Ml/MlA1 Tank Secure Driver's Station on a Ml/MlAl Tank Troubleshoot the Ml/MlAl Tank Using Driver's Control Panel Warning and Caution Lights Extinguish a Fire on an Ml/MlAl Tank Operate the Gas Particulate Filter Unit on an M1 Tank Install/Remove an M240 Coax Machinegun on an Ml/MlAl Tank Install/Remove the M240 Loader's Machinegun on an Ml/MlAl Tank Prepare Loader's Station for Operation on an Ml/MlAl Tank Load/Unload the 105mm Main Gun on an M1 Tank Load/Unload a M250 Grenade Launcher on an Ml/MlAl Tank Prepare Gunner's Station for Operation on an Ml/MlAl Tank Secure Gunner's Station on an Ml/MlAl Tank Stow Ammunition on M1 Tank Gate 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE 1

GATE

GATE 1

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 2

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

GATE 3

grenades, hand-to-hand combat, Weeks 5 to 8 will have more ad-obstacle course, confidence course, vanced classes. Now he learns to radio procedure, and a multitude of prepare/operate the FM radio; introductory-type classes. This clear, maintain, clean the M240 phase ends with the GATE 1 test. machinegun; Threat ID; SALUTE; ARMOR - September-October 7988 43 maintain operation records; basic mapherrain association; M9 qualification; driver station; ammunition ID and storage; breech block; M2 machinegun (familiarization); and reinforcement of previously-learned classes. This phase ends with the GATE 2 test. Weeks 8 though 10 are tank intensive. The soldier learns to replace and inspect track; clean and service the main gun; loader’s station; BDA hull; mount and dismount the ANWRC 64, and slave start the M1. During Week 10, he drives the tank. Initial driving is structured on a concrete driving course with well-defmed obstacles. During this time the soldier starts Individual Conduct of Fire Classes (ICOF), which will familiarize him with the gunner’s station. This phase ends with the GATE 3 test. Week 11 is gun week. The soldier fires a non-moving table VI-type exercise. By now, due to ICOFT training, all the soldiers are familiar with the gunner’s station. Even though we set up a realistic target array, and OSUT soldiers do all the firing, this is actually a loader’s exercise. Every soldier in the company rotates between the loader and gunner station, and each soldier loads and fires six rounds: two rounds at night, and four rounds during the day. In addition, all soldiers fire 200 rounds from the M240: 100 rounds from the gunner’s station, and 100 rounds from the loader’s station. Week 12 consists of a six-day FTX and two days of stand-down operations. During this week, the soldiers conduct a 12-15-mile road march (foot), navigate a day and night terrain course, conduct weapon and NBC training, (to include six hours in MOPP 4), and spend a day driving the tank. The major goals of field week are to get the soldier used to living in the field, and to drive the tank across country, on a tactical road march, and in tactical formations. The soldier does most of his driving this week. Due to OPTEMPO requirements, each soldier drives only 18 miles. Approximately seven miles are during week 10 and the other 11 miles per man will be driven during the R X . Although the soldier lives in the field, it is not under the same conditions as a REFORGER or NTC-type exercise. The soldiers live in pup tents, and not on their tanks. During Week 13, soldiers finish stand-down procedures, take their record

APFT

and take their Military Stakes Test. T&E conducts the record APFT, and the soldier must pass with a minimum of 60 points in each area. If a soldier does not pass, he can take the test a second time during Week 14. If he does not pass the second time, the soldier will not graduate with his cycle. We are allowed by regulation 10 keep a soldier two weeks after graduation to train him to Army standards. If, after two additional weeks of training, the soldier cannot pass the APFI’, he either receives a PT waiver or is processed out of the Army. During the last week of training, soldiers out-process, receive counseling, and practice graduation. ,411 the last-minute glitches on leaves, orders, and training are worked out, and the soldier graduates on Friday morning. After graduation, the average soldicr takes two weeks leave, then goes to his first TOSLE unit. As you can see, the new soldier who arrives at your unit will be weak in some areas. Two obvious areas are driving and extended field exercises. In addition, the soldier will not have done any recovery operations, other than a hands-on exercise on how to prepare the tank For towing. Two other important things the soldier will not have done arc to perform semi-annual services and use the MILES training system. As a general rule, all the soldiers in training are paid in the unit at the end of’the month. Because of this, they have to establish SURE PAY to their checking/savings account at the receiving unit. All soldiers receive a class on how to successfully maintain a checking account, but because many soldiers do not have checking accounts when they take this class, their grasp on the subject may be weak. The soldiers leave Fort Knox highly motivated, and with a firm grasp of the basic soldier skills they need. With your guidance, they will become the future leaders of our Army. Captain Mike Benver graduated from Ohio State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After attending AOB, he was assigned as a platoon leader in B Company, 6- 32d Armor at Fort Carson, armor’s first COHORT company. He served as XO of A Company, 2-66 Armor, BMO of 4/41st Infantry Battalion (M), and battalion S4 of 498th Support Battalion in Germany. He is a 1986 graduate of AOAC and has attended CAS3. He served as a project officer in the Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization at the Armor School and is currently the commander of B Company, 2d Battalion, 13th Armor at Fort Knox. 44 ARMOR - September-October 7988