1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Gunnery March 2012

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Regulars Train On New Heavy Combat Vehicles

March 2012

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Sergeant First Class Ross Carlson, tank commander assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, inserts a bore sight into the barrel of an M1A2 System Enhancement Package Abrams tank
to check if its sights are aligned, March 7, 2012, at Fort Carson Range 105. Bore sight refers to adjustments made to an optical sight
to align the barrel of a weapon with the sights. Carlson, a native of Sharpsbury, Ga., helps his Soldiers to maintain and operate their vehicles.
The "Regulars" Soldiers of 1st BCT recently began training on the new M1A2 SEP Abrams tanks and M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles
to develop their combat skills and build cohesion as a team in preparation for future missions.

Published March 12, 2012 by PFC Nathan Thome

1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Teams of Soldiers quickly donned their gear, loading one-by-one into the back of their new tank.
All in, the crew of new recruits closed the rear door of the M1A2 System Enhancement Package Abrams tank and
M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, ready to move out.

More than 40 Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
familiarized themselves on the new heavy combat vehicles during live-fire training at Fort Carson Range 105 March 7.

The "Regulars" Soldiers of 1st BCT recently began training on the new M1A2 SEP Abrams tanks and M2A2 BFV
to develop their combat skills and build cohesion as a team in preparation for future missions.

"We're conducting this training to get our Soldiers familiar with the new Bradley and tank," said Sgt. 1st Class Ross Carlson,
tank commander assigned to Company D. "The unit has received a handful of new Soldiers that have never worked with these vehicles,
so this is necessary training for them."

Before Soldiers practiced movement and firing drills, they checked to see if their vehicles were operable.

The crewmembers covered each piece of equipment in the vehicles, ensuring the new systems worked correctly
and using bore sights to align the weapons systems.

Bore sight refers to adjustments made to an optical sight, to align the barrel of a weapon with the sights, said Carlson,
a native of Sharpsbury, Ga.

"A handful of Soldiers came to this unit straight from (advanced individual training)," said Pvt. Joshua Debrum, armor crewman
assigned to Company D. "This training is important, because (we) are learning skills and tactics (we) will utilize downrange."

Operating and maintaining a Bradley or tank is a crew task, said Debrum, a native of Honolulu.

Crews must learn to work together to ensure they are combat ready, he said.

After Soldiers finished preparing their vehicles, they drove to the firing range to demonstrate their skills,
performing movement drills and dry-fire exercises.

"It's our responsibility to ensure our vehicles are properly maintained," said Spc. Mason Snyder, infantryman assigned to Company A.
"It may seem difficult at first, but with a good crew and the right training, the vehicles become easier to figure out."

Snyder added he had little experience with the Bradley, so when he trained on it daily, it became easier to understand.

During their training at the gunnery ranges, Soldiers took time to build camaraderie within their crew.

"Training exercises have brought our crew closer together," said Snyder, a native of Eaton, Ohio. "We spend a lot of time together
in our vehicles when we are at ranges, so we learn things about each other."

Highly trained, integrated crews and the firepower of their new vehicles make the unit a powerful force, said Carlson.

"Every day we are out in the field, our Soldiers are getting better and better at their maneuvering and firing drills," said Carlson.
"When we are done with our training, the unit will be an unstoppable force, able to destroy the enemy wherever it may be."

For extensive pics of 1-22 IN at Gunnery click on the following link:

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