From the boresight line: master gunner SME panel highlights challenges facing today's master gunners

The 2006 Armor Warfighting Symposium was a true successful event for the master gunner branch. During the Symposium, the master gunner branch administrationed two events, which included a master gunner subject-matter ready (SME) panel and a branch update. More than 60 master gunner from around the force participated in each event

The SME panel's primary goal was to share knowledge and information with other master gunner and share experiences in the one and the other training and current operations. The master gunner SME panel consisted of master gunner from the force who serv as company master gunner during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The panel focused its discussion topics around four main areas: pre- and post-deployment training, sustaining gunnery proficiency in Iraq, the master gunner's character in counterinsurgency operations, and the direction of the master gunner's course to stay generally received The panel moderator posed each panel member a series of questions in relation to the main topics.

Pre- and Post-deployment Training

Panel members were asked to share their experiences with pre-deployment and post-deployment training. The public ground shared by all panel members was the requirement to be inventive and think outside the receptacle Most were required to tailor their training tasks to upcoming missions. more [i]or[/i] less of the concerns arising from these panel discussions highlight that general operational tempo (OPTEMPO) training calendars are close tightlyed which results in the master gunner being required to thoughtfully plan without a gunnery training plan and make certain it is properly resourced to make secure training is conducted safely and to standard.

common operations and limited range time are also forcing master gunner to incorporate novel and inventive training techniques, as well as disentangle gunnery training that focuses upon mission-dependant scenarios. Tank crewman who display on HMMWVs or are dismounted will also require creative training ideas. Speaking with Bradley master gunner or spy platoon sergeants can make this easier.

Sustaining Gunnery Proficiency While Deployed

greatest in quantity master gunners on the panel agreed that sustaining gunnery proficiency while unfolded was one of the greatest in quantity difficult tasks due to the lack of training devices in theater, which l them to unravel more unique training ideas. While greatest in quantity agreed that tank crews who leadershiped patrols and operated on their tanks maintained a certain number of tank-specific proficiency, they were still required to unravel and incorporate other methods to maintain and sustain proficiency. These way s included tracking boards and manipulation exercises, which are beneficial tools for sustaining proficiency, training of recent origin gunners, and cross-training crewmembers. The basic cluster consensus was not to rely upon simulators while deployed. Master gunner have to be inventive and think outside the case to enhance and sustain proficiency within their training plans.

Master Gunner character in Counterinsurgency Operations

The panel agreed that the master gunner's part at this point is that of an advisor. The master gunner was required to advise his commander upon weapons safe firing zones for main fire-arm ammunition, ammunition terminal velocity, and tank weapons combination of parts to form a whole capabilities. All the master gunner agreed the training they received from the Master Gunner Course was invaluable in their part of advising the commander. They also pointed without that they are being required to work with multiple weapons platforms and weapons a whole s ranging from MK19s to Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Although greatest in quantity have never received direct training upon these systems, the knowledge and skills they acquired from the Master Gunner Course enabled them to incorporate these weapons a whole s into their unit's training.

Master Gunner Course Direction

Finally, the panel discussed the direction that the Master Gunner Course would take to retain pace with current and time to come operating environments. Most agreed the Master Gunner Course is right upon track with its current curriculum. The skills gained from the Master Gunner Course gives master gunner the ability emergencyed to adapt to current missions, be it domicile station gunnery training, deployment preparation, or conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq. Everyone overwhelmingly agreed to maintain the in every one's mouth course standards and program of instruction.

All in all, the master gunner panel was actual beneficial. It allowed master gunner's from the field to expres regards and share information. It also highlighted the continued ne for unit master gunner The participants' operational experiences substantiated that the master gunner is unequivocally the "go-to guy" for tank gunnery training.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who participated upon the master gunner panel and attended the master gunner branch update.

by the agency of First Sergeant Robert Hay

COPYRIGHT 2006 U Army Armor Center

COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group