Unit News
Pvt. David Love of B Troop loads the TOW during the Bradley Gunnery Skills Testing while Sgt. Matthew Goldsmith watches during the Oct. 21 testing at the squadron motorpool. Photo by 1st Lt. Nicholas Gilewitch, 2nd Sqdn., 13th Cav. Regt.
1st Lt. Nicholas Gilewitch
2nd Sqdn., 13th Cav. Regt.
The 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, conducted Bradley Gunnery Skills Testing at the squadron motor pool Oct.18 through 21.
Working together, each Bradley crew tested on the proper utilization of their equipment and knowledge of troubleshooting the weapons platform.
Each crew rotated through several stations to pass tests on different skills. The stations included threat vehicle identification, ammunition identification, disassembling, assembling and performing a functions check, loading, and performing immediate action on the M240C machine gun, loading and unloading armor-piercing and high-explosive ready box, loading, applying immediate action and unloading the feeder on the M242 25 mm machine gun, crew fire evacuation drills, crew rollover drills, misfire procedures on the 25 mm main gun, misfire procedures on a TOW missile, removing a misfired TOW, and removing and installing the M242 25 mm main gun.
Sgt. William Dayhoff, one of the primary evaluators for the Bradley Gunnery Skills Testing from A Troop, observes Pvt. Jim Perez of B Troop as he disassembles the M240C during the testing Oct. 21 at the squadron motor pool. Photo by 1st Lt. Nicholas Gilewitch, 2nd Sqdn., 13th Cav. Regt.
“The GST allows us to evaluate a Soldier’s ability to troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently,” said Sgt. William Dayhoff, one of the primary evaluators from A Troop. “This is extremely important when your battle buddy’s life is in your hands.”
Pvt. Jim Perez, a Soldier from B Troop, concurred with Dayhoff.
“The GST is proficient hands-on training. The more practice we get, the better we are at troubleshooting the equipment,” said Perez. “The test puts more pressure on us to simulate having the stresses of a combat environment.”
Sgt. William Dayhoff, one of the primary evaluators for the Bradley Gunnery Skills Testing from A Troop, looks on as Pvt. Scott Gordon of B Troop disassembles all the pieces of the M242 25 mm main gun during the Oct. 21 testing at the squadron motor pool. Photo by 1st Lt. Nicholas Gilewitch, 2nd Sqdn., 13th Cav. Regt.
“GST allows the squadron commander and other senior leaders of the squadron to evaluate the progress and knowledge of the Soldiers on their equipment. To me there is nothing better than knowing your wingman is capable of properly utilizing his weapons systems when needed,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alex Richardson, the squadron master gunner.
The squadron is wrapping up the GST in order to go to the field in the next couple of weeks to participate in different live-fire exercises to qualify the Bradley crews.