Press Release
☷US Army Master Gunners play vital role during Abrams Operations Summit in Poland
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 03,2022
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U . S . Army Staff Sgt . Christopher Montoya , master gunner , assigned to 2nd Battalion , 34th Armored Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division , reviews training materials during a class on the role of the master gunner as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . U . S . Army Staff Sgt . Alexander Axford , master gunner , assigned to 2nd Battalion , 34th Armored Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division , explains the importance of the role of the master gunner during a class for Polish soldiers as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . A Polish soldier listens to a class on the role of the master gunner by U . S . Army master gunners from 2nd Battalion , 34th Armored Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division , as a part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . DRAWSKO POMORSKIE , Poland - Polish soldiers can hear the rumble of the M1A2 Abrams tanks cresting the hill of Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland . These tanks are loud , heavy machines that make their presence known when operated in combat . The sight of them summon feelings of dominance and toughness . Brandishing these impressive vehicles onto the battlefield are tank crews consisting of four Soldiers: a commander , a driver , a gunner , and a loader . It takes training and experience to become proficient on the battlefield; it also requires guidance and determination to mold these Soldiers into experienced tanker crews . The master gunner is the noncommissioned officer who holds the key to success for these tanker crews . Master gunners are the technical and tactical experts for their specific weapons . The master gunner is responsible for advising the commander on everything related to that particular vehicle . They are also responsible for developing training materials and conducting gunnery and live - fire exercises . Various training aids sit on the table for Polish soldiers to see during a class taught by U . S . Army master gunners as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . U . S Army Command Sgt . Maj . Christopher Albanese ( center ) , sergeant major of 2nd Battalion , 34th Armored Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division , speaks with Polish soldiers during a question - and - answer period during a class on the role of the master gunner as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . Polish Warrant Officer Robert Sagatowski listens to a class taught by U . S . Army master gunners as they explain the importance of the role of the master gunner as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . “The ' Mike Golf ' is one of the most important NCOs in the battalion , ” said U . S . Army Lt . Col . Kenneth Selby , commander of 2nd Battalion , 34th Armor Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division . “That person is your subject matter expert . They are the ones who put everything together based on the commander’s intent . ” Crews develop their skills with the experience of the master gunner , both on and off the range . “The master gunner plans and executes gunnery training , advises the commander on gunnery training courses of action , and passes on knowledge to improve the lethality and capability of the unit as a whole , ” said U . S . Army Staff Sgt . Alexander Axford , master gunner , assigned to 2nd Battalion , 34th Armor Regiment . The crews qualify at gunnery through training tables that progress from gunnery tables I to VI and end with a live - fire exercise to fully qualify . These tables begin with learning primary weapons systems , training on the Abrams tank or Bradley Fighting Vehicle , and performing simulations to ultimately qualify with live rounds while engaging moving and stationary targets on the range . “I have the master gunners on speed dial; I talk to them all the time , ” Selby said . “They are my technical experts . They are the maintenance experts on the guns and the machine guns , and for all the gunnery ranges that we do here . ” A hat with the master gunner patch sits on the head of U . S . Army Staff Sgt . Christopher Montoya , master gunner for 2nd Battalion , 34th Armored Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division , as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 28 , 2022 . Various training aids sit on the table for Polish soldiers to see during a class taught by U . S . Army master gunners as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . U . S . Army Sgt . 1st Class Brian Parratt , master gunner assigned to Panthers Team , Joint Multinational Readiness Center , speaks with Polish soldiers during a question - and - answer period during a class on the role of the master gunner as part of the Abrams Operations Summit at Bucierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 27 , 2022 . This class was for Polish soldiers who would eventually become master gunners in the Polish Land Forces to understand better how they would implement this role in their land forces . To earn the title of “Master Gunner , ” a Soldier must be an NCO and be specially selected by the commander to attend the master gunner course . The course is at Fort Benning , Georgia . The master gunners assigned to 2nd Battalion , 34th Armor Regiment , 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Infantry Division , are trained for the M1/M1A2 Tank or the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle . “The master gunner is a subject matter expert on training , land , and ammo management , ” said Command Sgt . Maj . Christopher Albanese , of 2nd Battalion , 34th Armor Regiment , “These are highly intelligent individuals sent to the Master Gunner Course , ” he said . “This course teaches machine guns , surface danger zones , and training management . ” During the Master Gunner Course , they also learn how to plan and execute range operations . They train to be experts on qualifying individual crews through brigade - size elements during live - fire exercises . Once the Soldier is a qualified master gunner , they become that dedicated specialist a company commander relies upon . “The master gunner is a subject matter expert who executes the commander’s intent during gunnery training and ensures that all standards are being met , ” Axford explained . Master gunners stay engaged throughout the gunnery . Observing from the tower or the vehicle , they have many responsibilities to keep their eyes on . Their guidance extends from the movement of the vehicles , ammunition distribution , and the weapons fire to make sure to run an after - action review for the benefit of the crews . The Soldiers are the ones who benefit from a committed master gunner who provides support , motivation , and mentorship to shape them into experienced crews . U . S . Army master gunners brought that same expertise and professionalism to train Polish soldiers in the role of the master gunner at Bruchierz Range , Drawsko Pomorskie , Poland , April 26 - 28 . In the 45 days leading up to the training event , master gunners assigned to 1st Infantry Division helped create and develop the training for what became known as the Abrams Operation Summit . The Abrams Operation Summit was a three - day training program designed to introduce the Polish army to U . S . Army systems and procedures that support successful Abrams operations at the company levels . The training consisted of leader panel discussions and roundtables , subject matter expert presentations , hands - on practical exercises , and field demonstrations . “The Dreadnaughts set the stage for the Polish Army to get familiarized with the M1 Abrams , how it fights , how we maintain the tank , how we sustain it . We have also given them some familiarization training on warfighting , fighting function synchronization , and fighting in a combined arms construct , ” Selby said . “So we gave them a three - day crash course on how to do this right . ” The Abrams Operation Summit aims to support the Polish Tank Program by familiarizing key leaders with the systems and processes that produce lethal armored fighting formations . “This training is important because it increases interoperability between the U . S . and NATO allies , ” Axford concluded , “It improves the understanding of different capabilities and limitations , which is critically important now that Poland is preparing to field their first Abrams tanks . ”
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