Bradley Training Ammuntion

by SGM (Retired) Derek D. McCrea

article photo

An M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division fires on its first engagement during gunnery Table VI on 4 November 2013 at Fort Stewart, Ga. (Photo by SGT Richard Wrigley)

During recent unit visits to armored brigade combat teams by the TRADOC Capability Manager - Armored Brigade Combat Team (TCM-ABCT), master gunners expressed they have a lack of dummy training ammunition for Bradley crews to effectively conduct gunners skills tasks (GST) 4B and 5B in accordance with Training Circular 3-20.21.1, Individual and Crew Live-Fire Prerequisite Testing. Training Support Centers (TSCs) don’t stock .50 cal, 7.62mm, or 25mm Dummy Drill & Inerts (DDI); however, some TSCs carry 120mm dummy training ammunition. One set of training ammunition is not enough for an entire ABCT to attain and retain proficiency on GST. FM 3-20.21, Heavy Brigade Combat Team Gunnery, outlines two vehicles per GST station. In order to support this requirement, combined arms battalions (CABs) must have access to two sets of training ammunition per GST station.

Recommendations

TCM-ABCT recommends that units conduct inventories to identify available/serviceable training dummy rounds in all rifle/armor companies and scout platoons. Dummy rounds generally outlast links, and links can be requested from the ammunition supply point (ASP) to reduce the total Army requirement needing ordered. Units need to order shortages necessary to support unit GST requirements for two vehicles per station in accordance with TC 3-20.21.1 and FM 3-20.21. Battalion and/or brigade master gunners need to access the Total Ammunition Management Information System (TAMIS) to order 25mm and 7.62mm dummy ammunition.

If battalion and brigade master gunners require assistance in TAMIS, brigade special troops battalion (BSTB) ammunition managers and the ammunition technician can order DDI through TAMIS to support training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations (TADSS) requirements outlined in DA Pamphlet 350-38, Standards in Training Commission (Appendix B), which can be found online at http://www.atsc.army.mil/tcmlive/strac/firspage.asp. The POC for DDI is MAJ Debbie Lovelady (debbie.c.lovelady2.mil@mail.mil).

Units need to order TOW missile simulator rounds (MSRs) through the supply system. The MSR is a non-expendable major end item that is requisitioned through the supply system (NSN 6920-00-223-4919).

Upon receipt of ammunition training aids, TCM-ABCT recommends that battalion and brigade master gunners issue one set per rifle company. Battalion master gunners need to maintain oversight; however, company master gunners need to maintain accountability to support company training requirements. One set of training ammunition per rifle company provides the requirement for company master gunners to certify graders prior to the consolidated battalion GST that requires two sets of ammunition per task. The breakdown shown in Figure 1 provides enough dummy rounds to run a company-level event with one vehicle per station or a battalion consolidated GST with two vehicles per station.

SGM (Retired) Derek D. McCrea is currently serving as the training, leadership development, and safety integrator for TCM-ABCT, Jacobs ASG. His previous assignments include serving as the MCoE Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) transformation SGM; operations SGM for the 197th Infantry Brigade; operations SGM for the 158th Infantry Brigade, operations SGM for the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment; first sergeant for C Company, 3-15 IN; first sergeant for A Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor; and first sergeant for HHC, 1-64 AR. McCrea has ABCT deployment experience during Operation Iraqi Freedom I and III. He has a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Southern University.

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