US Army Training Center - Armor Yearbook (Fort Knox, KY)

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ARMOR The Combat Arrn of Decision 11 To - . , s 3, i-.n ' W f 1? 4 -tt x- ' A - ' K ,- nfss-1gf..Nwe.,t.,sssm- - f s +v W M-was vias-sv :NL W - .X ike , . AQ as xrgfr Q- , t ,swf st 4 .. N Q -sf A-sswewggifljki . -'ii . Y v Y- Su E' - Q 1- tg A if i + fs sw. . -u ...gs , -a,x awp fu g Q 5 X n. ' M' -. V , .--s s , . -P lex -no '- +V ,, + ' .1 -'ix -. ' de, Nwcgtstjga ggi up it a. F c as u t K .xvwf wi. kk it w Fire and steel spew from tanks on the firing line. Advanced Individual Training, Armor The company cadre, assisted by spe- cialists from the Brigade Instructor Group, lead the trainees through tank gunnery. driver training and maintenance ol' vehicles. Addi- tionally. the trainees are taught how to fire the 90 millimeter main tank gun, the M73 t7.62mml co-axial mounted machine gun and .50 caliber machine gun. The student learns how to fire these weapons quickly and accurately using direct fire sights and auxiliary fire control instruments. Armor trainees also receive training in communications, combat skills tie., map readingl, land mine warfare and general military subjects to further their ability as a modern Army tanker. By the end of his eight weeks of training, the trainee tanker is able to perform the duties of a loader, driver or gunner.

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d anced ndividual raining After completion of basic training. the trainee either remains in the US Army Training Center, Armor QUSATCAJ, or goes to another training center for Advanced Individual Train- ing QAITJ. If he is assigned to USATCA for either advanced training in armor, reconnais- sance or a specialist field, he will remain at Fort Knox from 4 to 10 weeks. Experienced instructors of the Armor and Reconnaissance Training Brigades provide training as an armor crewman fa loader, driver or gunnerb, .or as a reconnaissance specialist. The reconnaissance trainee is taught the prin- ciples of scouting and patrolling. Upon comple- tion of training, the tank crewman and recon- naissance scout i will normally be assigned to one of the many tank or armored cavalry units throughout the world. A portion of the basic training graduates will go to one of the CST battalions in the 2d Bri- gade to be trained in one of the combat support fields fradio operator, cook, clerk, clerk-typist or personnel specialistl. If the trainee goes to another training center for advanced individual training, he may be trained in any one of the following areas: Infantry Artillery Engineers Signal Corps Transportation Corps Quartermaster Corps Medical Service Corps Military Police Finance Information Air Defense Aviation Whatever type of Advanced Individual Train- ing the new soldier is given, he will- earn a Mil- itary Occupational Specialty QMOSI. He will receive a diploma signifying that he has qualified in this MOS. How is the determination made that an in- dividual soldier will be trained in a particular field? At the Reception Station, during his first week in the Army, the trainee is given the Army Battery of Aptitude Tests which help determine the type of training for which he is best suited. A form is filled out on each trainee containing information about his civilian education, civilian occupation and the test scores. This information, along with the individual's personal job pref- erence and USATCA's recommendation, is for- warded to the Department of the Army. USATCA is then notified of the specific type of advanced training the individual is to receive. Reserve enlisted personnel in the Army under the short term active duty program receive the same basic and advanced training as active Army trainees. After graduation from Advanced Individual Training, the active Army trainee is assigned to a regular Army unit within the United States or in an overseas area. The reserve enlisted trainee returns to his home town to complete the remainder of his reserve or national guard commitment.

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The Mll4 Command and Reconnaissance vehicle has the ability to negotiate rough and thickly vegetated terrain. It also has the capability of fast movement alo l su roads. 'sa A trainee selected to be trained as a Reconnaissance Specialist is assigned to one of the reconnaissance troops in the Second Training Brigade and carries the title of trooper, During his eight weeks of intensive training, the soldier becomes familiar with the modern armored cavalry scouting vehicle, the Mll4 Armored Command and Recon- naissance Vehicle. The future scout drives these two vehicles over all types of terrain under difficult conditions and is taught how to keep them in a well maintained condition. The majority of the training, however, is devoted to scouting and patrolling. The trainee learns the principles of mounted and dismounted combat and reconnaissance pa- trols, route, area and zone reconnaissance, establishment of observation and listening post. camouflage, map reading, bridge classi- fication, artillery adjustment, message writing and reporting of intelligence. The trainee scout also fires the M60 machine gun, the M14 rifle, the M79 Gre- nade Launcher, the M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon QLAWJ and the .45 caliber pistol. Additionally, he is taught how to clean and care for these various weapons. At least 'FHM