M1A1 N E T in Southwest Asia

MIA1 NETT in Southwest Asia When the Army decided to upgun two divisions already deployed to DESERT SHIELD, training them in theater became a challenge By Major Rick J. Edmond and Captain Kermit E. Steck In the summer of 1990, the Army deployed some CONS-based tank battalions equipped with the M1 tank in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD. The battalions were well trained in 105-mm gunnery, but after evaluating the large Iraqi armor threat facing the U.S. Armor force, DA made the decision in September to upgrade the deployed forces to the MlA1. The upgrade would provide the U.S. force with a larger 120-mm main gun, an overpressurization system to combat the Iraqi chemical threat, and improved armor protection to enhance crew survivability. The mission to plan and execute the training of the DESERT SHIELD armor force went to the Armor Center's New Equipment Training Division. The scope of the mission was to train the 1st Cavalry Division, augmented with the 2d AD Tiger Brigade, and the 24th ID (Mech), augmented with the 197th Separate Infantry Brigade. The training was conducted in Saudi Arabia at the port of Damman. The intent of the mission was nothing new to the New Equipment Training (NET) Division, which had been providing MlAl rollover training to CONUS tank battalions .for the past two years, but the concept of deploying a NET rollover team to a potential combat area to conduct this training was a monumental task. In addition, the training was to start NLT 29 November and be completed before 1 January 1991. From August to October 1990, MlAl tanks were prepared for shipment to Saudi Arabia at POMCUS sites in USAREUR. The Army tasked the Materiel Fielding Team (MFT'), based in Vilseck, Germany, to receive the tanks in Damman. The MFT was augmented with over 600 civilians from the Annkton Army Depot, Ala. The mission of the MFT' was to off-load the MlAl tanks and upgrade them for issue to the armor battalions of the 1st Cav and the 24th ID. The upgrade included prepping the tanks in accordance with 10120 standards, issuing ASLPLL, and even painting the tanks desert sand CARC paint. While the tanks were being prepared in USAREUR for shipment, the NET Division made the necessary preparations to deploy a NET team capable of teaching two tank companies simultaneously. In order to complete the large scope of this mission, the NET assembled its standard MlAl Rollover NET Team and augmented the team with 47 NCOs and one officer from the 194th Separate Armored Brigade at Fort b o x . The Rollover NET Team had to redeploy from Fort Carson, draw equipment, and rapidly train the additional members assigned to the team, all in 10 working days. In addition to teaching 19K skills, the rollover program of instruction (POI) called for upgrading MlAl skills of both organizational and DS/GS support elements. The volatility of the 120-mm round made maintaining and loading the 120-mm breech a very important training factor. Eight hours of the two-day POI were devoted to the loading, construction, cleaning, and maintenance of the 120-mm breech 74 ARMOR - March-April 7997 and main gun. We stressed safety at all times, during both the 19K and maintenance phases of training. After preparation, the rollover team left Fort Knox on 27 November on two C141B aircraft, arriving in Damman the following day at 2300 hrs. Team members immediately started preparing the Damman port for an MlAl rollover NET. Less than seven hours later, the MlAl NET began training two companies of the 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. In order to understand the southwest Asia rollover, it is important to outline the process by which a battalion upgraded its tank fleet from M1 to MlA1. Once a battalion arrived at the port, it turned in its M1 tanks to the MFT, and drew MlAls. The battalion then proceeded to the MlAl NET facility and conducted training at a rate of two companies every two days, for a total of four days per battalion trained. After the completion of NET, the battalion moved back to the desert and conducted calibration and TT VI1 gunnery, with master gunner support from the rollover team. This process worked for the 1st Cavalry Division, but changed significantly for the 24th ID. Early in December, the rollover team received the mission to rollover the 24th ID (M) and the 197th Separate Infantry Brigade simultaneously with the 1st Cavalry Division and complete this mission before 25 December 1990. This increased the training pace from two companies to three companies per day (two 1st Cav companies and one 24th ID company). The MFT was unable to issue the 24th ID MlAl tanks until after 23 December. Thus, the NET of the 24th ID was conducted on 15 static tanks provided by the MFT. The concept was to issue the MlAl tanks to the 24th ID after the NET. The MFT provided an MlAl push package to the division’s desert location. The entire NET of both the 1st Cav and the 24th ID was completed on 23 December 1990. This significant event was accomplished with an additional augmentation of instructors from USAREUR. The pace was hectic, but the USAARMC NET proved that two heavy divisions, each with three brigades, could be rolled over from M1 to MlAl in just over 26 days. This effort is directly related to the professionalism and spirit of the noncommissioned officers who made up the NET rollover effort. The significant contribution the

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team made, ARMOR - March-April 1991 coupled with the 120-mm main gun, the NBC system, and the improved in the visible boost in morale the DESERT SHIELD soldiers got when they received their new tanks. ~ chance of survivability, was evident MAJ Rick J. Edmond was commissioned in Armor in 1975 from the New Mexico Military Institute. He served in various Armor command and staff positions in both the 1st ID Forward (FRG) and 1st Cavalry Division. He also taught as an associate professor of military science at the University of Kansas. He is currently chief of the New Equipment Training Division,

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CPT Kermit E. Steck was commissioned in Armor in 1985 from Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Ga. He served as platoon leader, company XO, and BMO of 4-37 AR, 1st ID at Fort Riley, Kan. He graduated from the Armor Advanced Course in 1989, and is currently team chief of the M1A1 Rollover Team. 15