POCHEON, Republic of Korea -- The Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, conducted platform specific gunnery training at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, Republic of Korea from Nov. 15 to Dec. 16.
The more than 30-day training exercise on the RLFC consisted of the "Dreadnaught" Soldiers training on the battalion's key armored vehicles, the M1A2 Abram Tank and the M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
According to officials from 2-34 AR, the tank and Bradley crews all maintained their qualifications, and continue to be trained, ready, and lethal infantry, armor, and reconnaissance crews to enable multi-echelon collective training at the company level and higher. If called upon, the battalion stands ready to "Fight Tonight" in support of the 2nd Infantry Division / ROK-U.S. Combined Division's mission to deter regional aggression and maintain peace on the Korean peninsula
In addition to the armored crews, the scout and mortar platoons also qualified on their weapon systems during the 30-day exercise. The platoons conducted multiple platform specific gunnery tables during the training event in support of the battalion's contingency force mission.
"For the last five weeks, the battalion has sharpened our gunnery and combined arms maneuver skills at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex," said Lt. Col. Bryan Harris, the battalion's commander. "This training has ensured that the Soldiers are at the highest levels of readiness and are prepared to accomplish any mission. This training has set the foundation for all the operations we will conduct throughout the rest of our time in Korea."
Leading up to the gunnery exercise, the "Dreadnaught" Soldiers maximized the training opportunities in the virtual training environment. Soldiers mastered their crew duties and fire commands through the use of Bradley advanced training system, or BATS, and advanced gunnery training system, or AGTS, on Camp Casey prior to their live-fire execution at the RLFC. The virtual systems allowed the crews to practice target acquisition and engagement techniques in order to achieve confidence with their platform specific systems prior to conducting collective live fire training.
"The battalion went through a comprehensive training program that included training in simulators, testing on the basic skills required to operate the equipment effectively and safely, and ensuring the battalion is prepared to execute all of our missions," said Maj. Jacob Kaldor, the battalion's operations officer.
Enablers from multiple echelons were integrated into the training scenarios, which exposed the battalion's platoon leaders to inorganic assets they can use on the battlefield.
"The integration of engineer assets during the Super Table XII is great value added to our training because it allows (platoon leaders) to get reps on one of our (mission essential task list) tasks and it allows them to build those relationships with enabler-leadership that is essential to the success of combined-arms operations," said 1st Lt. Juan Quiroz, the battalion engineer.
Additional assets outside of the brigade were also utilized to help create a wide range of capabilities on the simulated battlefield for the battalion.
"Efforts culminated with the Gunnery Table XII, where platoons were able to plan, integrate, and employ organic and attached enablers to include 120 mm mortars, Kiowa, and Apache aviation assets to accomplish our key collective tasks," said Capt. Matt White, the commander of Company C. "Our mission readiness is confirmed by their actions."
The battalion's fires and effects coordination cell, the team responsible for coordinating artillery, air support and other indirect fire support, provided massing fires while integrating surface to surface and air to ground assets in order to enable armored and mechanized Infantry platoons to reach their objective.
"The terrain on the peninsula is not conducive for effective voice and digital communications, but the adaptable fires team leaders in this organization were able to identify issues, troubleshoot, and transmit digital call for fires to the Mortars in a timely manner," said Cpt. Brandon Morse, the battalion's fire support officer.
"It was a good opportunity to practice volley fire to create shock effect and discord on the enemy," added 1st Lt. Aaron Beyer, a platoon leader with Company B.
"Gunnery was a great experience for me as a driver," said Pfc. Cody McCartney, a driver assigned to Scout Platoon, Headquarters, Headquarters Company. "I was able to refine my skills, maneuvering with the platoon, and realized that I could really help my crew by calling out targets that I could see through my driver's video enhanced."
For armored crews, conducting the most realistic training possible is key to success on the battlefield.
"Crew gunnery is the foundation upon which an armored company draws its strength," said Cpt. Andrew McLellan, the commander of Company A. "The ability to quickly acquire targets and engage with accurate lethal direct fire enables the unit to impose its will against the enemy. The skills refined during our gunnery here at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex support the 'Fight Tonight' standard of readiness and further enhance our commitment to the US-ROK alliance."
Soldiers on the ground and in the tanks and Bradleys also understand the importance of conducting training like they've completed over the 30-day exercise.
"Gunnery is a true test of a crew's proficiency to not only fight their tank, but also to engage and destroy targets," said Sgt. Stetson Countryman, an M1A2 Abram tank gunner with Company A. "Gunnery at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex was challenging due to a wide variety of targetry and the terrain of the range."
The "Dreadnaught" battalion will continue to hone their skills throughout their nine-month deployment to the Korean peninsula as other battalions from the 1st ABCT utilize the ranges at RLFC to maintain their skills as trained and ready armored units.