Making a Tanker

We followed seven recruits as they traveled the path from civilian to Soldier.
This is Pvt. Salazar's story.

From the bus through the briefing and heading toward the company area, Salazar maintains possession of the duffle bags that contain essentials she'll need for one station unit training (OSUT). Soldiers in some military occupational specialties, or MOSs, move to a new unit for advanced individual training after basic training. But in OSUT, trainees remain with same unit for basic and advanced individual training.

Salazar attempts to "zero" the M4 carbine rifle using the backup iron sights. During Week 2, the trainees begin to fire rifles with live ammunition. Up to this point, weapons training has focused on breathing and trigger squeezing through digital simulation classes. The standard is to zero an M4 with the backup iron sight. Zeroing a firearm is adjusting the sights so the bullet hits where aimed.

"I feel stressed. I feel like I have to get this right. This is my first time ever firing a gun and it's scary. But I still feel like I made the right decision by joining the Army."

Salazar uses some of her personal time to write a letter to family. For 30 minutes daily trainees get "personal time" in which they can do what they choose. Generally the trainees spend the time washing clothes, writing or reading letters or cleaning weapons.

"I hurt my hip during the ACFT (Army Combat Fitness Test) so I'll be using the crutches for a little while."

The trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, negotiate the Confidence Tower on Harmony Church during training week 6 of one station unit training. Salazar climbs a ladder that leads to the top of the Confidence Tower. Salazar rappels the Confidence Tower. Rappelling the tower obstacle correctly is a graduation requirement for trainees.

The trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, execute the night infiltration at Young Range on Fort Benning, Georgia. Trainees low crawl under barbed wire while explosives and live rounds fly overhead. This exercise introduces Soldiers to the sights and sound of the battlefield during limited visibility.

Salazar climbs the horizontal ladder and low crawls under barbed wire midway through the conditioning course. This obstacle course strengthens trainees' cardio and helps with maintaining fitness and endurance.

The trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, receive a lesson in armor history at the Armor Museum Restoration Shop. The facility houses tanks, armored vehicles and weapons from the National Armor and Cavalry collection.

Salazar and other trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, take notes as an instructor describes the components of the U.S. Army's M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. Trainees spend several days learning the ins and outs of the vehicle that they will crew.

The trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, drive M1 Abrams tanks around the Ground Mobility Division's course at Sandy Hook Range. The M1 has a maximum speed of 42 mph and a range of 265 miles.

Salazar passes ammunition to a tank crew member as they prepare to fire the M1 Abrams tank for the first time. Salazar waits for tanks to return to the loading pad for resupply. When not crewing the tank, trainees fulfill the role of ammunition supply.

Salazar and the trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, fire the main gun on the U. S. Army's M1 Abrams main battle tank. The M1 Abrams uses a 120 mm smoothbore gun that fires a variety of rounds capable of destroying enemy armor from great distances.

After a 12-mile ruck march, the trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, receive their U.S. Army Armor insignia, at a transition ceremony on Harmony Church. The insignia features an M26 Pershing tank with its gun slightly raised, superimposed on two crossed cavalry sabers in scabbards.

After 20 weeks of one station unit training, Pvt. Roxanne Salazar, along with the men and women of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, graduate. They are now officially 19 kilos or U.S. Army Tankers. They will now join armored divisions around the world.

"I was nervous on the first day. Now I feel like I can do anything."