Tankers Fight Virtual Enemy on Close Combat Tactical Trainer

By 1LT Darin J. Shearer, 1-8 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division


Tankers Fight Virtual Enemy on Close Combat Tactical Trainer


Tank crews from Company C, 1-8 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division spent Wednesday, the 22nd of July fighting a virtual enemy at the Fort Carson Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) in preparation for their upcoming gunnery exercise and future deployment to Iraq. “This training will enable our crews to shoot, move, and communicate when they start gunnery,” said Company Commander Capt. Gregory E. Sandifer, from York, S. Carolina.

Senior Training Facilitator and retired Infantry First Sergeant Dennis Vesser explained the capabilities of the facility: “The CCTT facility houses …tanks… Bradley Fighting Vehicles… BFISTs, and Reconfigurable Vehicle Systems. The trainers have the same sights and armament as the real vehicle. The Soldiers practice crew coordination and range flow while saving the Army money. Basically, if we have an [Operations Order] and an overlay, we can set up the scenario to meet a commander’s training objectives based on his needs.”

After reviewing the previous iteration of training on a large ten by twelve foot screen in the After Action Review (AAR) room, crew members re-entered the bulky yellow containers that house the mock tanks inside the vast modern warehouse-like building and donned their Combat Vehicle Crewman headsets. SSgt. Donald Mertz from Shelby Township, Mich. called instructions to the tank commanders over a radio, and the training facilitator began the computerized simulated exercise. Tank commander, driver, gunner, and loader worked together to maneuver, identify enemy targets, and blast them to virtual oblivion with the proper ordinance.

“This simulated exercise will allow us to be proficient at Table 8 before gunnery,” said Company C executive officer, Capt. William Denn, from Albany, New York. “All crews will have multiple opportunities to train day and night exercises. This facility allows us to train for full spectrum operations. We can even drive through the streets of Baghdad to learn to deal with civilian traffic, IEDs, and snipers.”

After completing the iteration, crew members reported back to the AAR room in an upbeat mood: discussing the action, laughing, and making excuses for missed shots. The training facilitator replayed the video recording of the action on the large screen while SSgt. Mertz coached the crews. “Make sure you have the correct round indexed, and use the right reticule. One of your shots went way too far down range,” he told one crew.

“And don’t drive off the range road,” added Capt. Denn. “At gunnery you will be disqualified if you do that.”

“But Sir, we’re in a tank,” the offending driver retorted to the laughter of his buddies.

Capt. Denn quipped back: “I know, but being in a tank won’t save you from the [Officer in Charge] kicking you off the range.”