Charlie Mike! Continue the Mission: Tank Ranges at the MCOE

By now, everyone in the armor and cavalry community is aware that the Armor Center and School will be relocating to Fort Benning, Georgia, where it will align with the Infantry School in creating the new Maneuver Center of Excellence. In addition to building an entirely new Armor Center at Harmony Church, ranges and training areas are also under construction. To support the move, tank ranges are currently under construction and existing ranges are receiving necessary upgrades and modifications to support future armor training. Final designs and the creation of range blueprints for the remaining ranges required are nearing completion. This article explores some of what it takes to build a tank range; the process is more complex than solving a crossword puzzle in the dark. The decision to relocate the Armor Center and School has had an impact across the Army and its supporting agencies. One of the first steps was the development of an environmental impact study (EIS); two in fact were required, to encompass all the areas on Fort Benning that would be affected by the relocation. These EIS, coupled with lessons learned from two ongoing wars, have created a tightrope that all parties must follow to shape and mold future tank ranges. I have personally been involved from the beginning in the range process. In March 2006, then 1st Armored Training Brigade Commander, Colonel Peter Utley, asked me to provide direction and purpose for a single stationary tank gunnery range, under consideration at Fort Benning, for 19K (tank crewman) and 19D (cavalry scout) one station unit training (OSUT) courses. I applied my understanding of the 2d Battalion, 81st Armor mission and extracted the cavalry side from 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry. Putting the two together, I could see the similarities, as well as the differences, in range requirements. Using the program of instruction (POI) associated with each training activity, I created a presentation for the chief of range operations and his range planner at Fort Benning. The briefing was informal, but it served as an eye-opener for both of them; they were under the impression that the Armor School required only a baseline range with no offensive capability or moving targets. The presentation helped lay the foundation for the stationary tank gunnery range and all other range projects. There are several differences between the armor and infantry OSUT courses, which include ammo pad size requirements (ammunition needed to conduct 19K OSUT gunnery is much greater in size and total net explosive weight); limited offensive capability associated with 19K POI; and the incorporation of lessons learned and tactics, techniques, and

50 — procedures (TTP) from Iraq and Afghanistan (i.e., the use of urban clusters on ranges). After careful study of the course requirements, we determined that one range would not meet all the requirements and decided to build a second stationary tank range. My initial range work led to a subsequent assignment to the Armor School’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) planning team and an eventual move to Fort Benning to be on-site as the ranges were constructed. Over a 2-year span, we encountered many challenges along the way, but working with the units, we learned a great deal about individual training requirements. This knowledge enabled me to work with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) design teams to ensure that all ranges, constructed or up graded, support armor and cavalry POIs. We focused on developing one range, ST-1, which would support 19K, 19D, Master Gunner, U. S. Marine Corps, and even some Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) requirements. Despite our best efforts, one discrepancy will require future work to correct — the size of the ammunition holding pad. The pad currently under construction was directed by the Army Training Support Center (ATSC), which approved the installation of a Forces Command (FORSCOM) standard ammo pad prior to contract award. ATSC failed to realize that the U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and FORSCOM have a significant distinction — the timeline of gunnery. The 19K OSUT gunnery normally runs 4 consecutive days, with a 6-day total requirement. The first day focuses on setup, screening, staging, and ammo drop. The last day is scheduled for cleanup, clearing, and spent ammo pickup. The critical training mass is the 4 days in between, which focuses entirely on executing non-stop live-fire training from sunrise to the completion of night-fire engagements; there is no time to halt operations for ammo resupply during these 4 days. It is challenging enough to complete all training in the current format due to random stoppages that occur for vehicle breakdown or target malfunction. An ammunition pad large enough to stock supplies for the entire rotation requires a 106' x 17' pad. This size is based on the number of rounds, size of ammunition pallets, and, most importantly, on my previous experiences. It is important to note that TRADOC units do not have a support platoon to move ammunition, so setting up single-day drops will be an added expense each time the range is used. The pad currently under construction is 10' x 20', and as a result of its much smaller size, it will negatively impact 19K OSUT. Once training commences on this range, it will not be long before a future project will have to be developed to correct this error. Before the second tank range and redesign of the Hastings multipurpose tank range (MPTR) were contracted, I ensured they had the appropriately sized ammo pads! The original requirement for ST-1 range at Fort Benning was listed as a “stationary tank range.” This descriptive title was not entirely accurate; the POI for 19K OSUT requires a single offensive engagement. This lone task enabled me to leverage limited offensive capability on both ST-1 and ST-2 tank ranges, which are designed to be interchangeable as far as unit accessibility and scheduling. The standard policy of not dedicating specific ranges to specific units enabled both ST-1 and ST-2 ranges to have mirror capabilities. Over the past 3 years, I consulted with as many potential users as possible. From OSUT to BOLC, Master Gunner, and U. S. Marine Corps training, I made it my mission to share the design with other users and solicit input, which provided several sets of eyes on the proposed designs. The input has been extremely positive and future users feel these ranges are “awesome,” which proves the value of having Fort Knox personnel on-site, from the beginning of actual construction, to oversee the designs develop from concept to actual ranges. Everything man does needs a little tweak here and there and these ranges are no exception; however, our goal is to build ranges that will support each of our organizations well into the future. The BOLC gunnery exercise is a massive operation that prepares our armor and cavalry officers for future assignments. The operation consists of two separate live-fire gunneries, which are conducted simultaneously — tank (armor) on one dedicated range and Bradley (cavalry) on a separate range. This requirement created the need for a true MPTR and a second to support the other half of the training rotation. Current Fort Benning ranges can almost meet both requirements, but at a much lower standard than ranges currently used by the Armor School at Fort Knox. To address this, a $17.5 million project was developed to design and construct an MPTR, but getting this project started proved challenging; several problems existed, starting with location. The location proposed by Fort Benning’s range division was just to the north and west of the existing Hastings MPTR. Hastings is an operational range that supports FORS COM and TRADOC requirements, but is in need of repair. The design firm hired to develop the plans for the new MPTR immediately identified several large problems with the proposed location. First, the land had significant low ground and a hilltop that created a tremendous intervisibility (IV) line. The designers tried every possible adjustment to the range layout, but their analysis concluded that it was too costly to design and develop an MPTR on that “We focused on developing one range, ST-1, which would support 19K, 19D, Master Gunner, U. S. Marine Corps, and even some Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) requirements. Despite our best efforts, one discrepancy will require future work to correct — the size of the ammunition holding pad.”

location; the earthwork alone was estimated at $70 million. The second issue with the proposed location was its impact on the red cockad-ed woodpecker, an endangered bird nesting in the area. After consulting with our team, Fort Benning range control, and master gunners from 16th Cavalry and 194th Armored Brigade, the USACE project manager requested that an alternate site be found for the range. It was determined that Hastings Range, based on its pre-existing status, could be modernized and restored with available funds and still meet the BRAC movement timeline. Hastings Range would be transformed by way of an extreme makeover into a modern MPTR, capable of supporting present and future gunnery exercises. The third challenge that faced the MPTR planners and designers was how to incorporate the new heavy brigade combat team (HBCT) requirements, as well as the dictated ATSC requirement to support the current tank gunnery manual. Working with a draft HBCT gunnery manual and the already established tank gunnery manual, the planners and designers worked all angles to include the requirements of both manuals into the design package, with great results. Once presented with the coordinated design, ATSC acquiesced to supporting both the tank and HBCT requirements. The fourth issue was environmental impact; Hastings Range has unique challenges due to poor soil composition that leaves a large portion of the ground poorly suited to support plant life. Without plants to hold the soil, the movement of tanks and Bradley’s would cause major erosion-control problems, adding to the already present erosion in the area, which is referred to as “mini grand canyons.” USACE environmentalists are working solutions to improve the soil composition, which include building hardened low-water crossing sites; seeding all disturbed soil areas; limiting drainage slopes to slow runoff water; and limiting stream crossing sites, as much as possible. The fifth obstacle is line of sight and surface area danger zones. Hastings Range is located in the far northeastern corner of Fort Benning, critically close to post boundaries. The challenge lies in ensuring all surface area danger zone patterns and target locations are safely emplaced and do not exceed range or post limitations. The beaten zone for Hastings will change somewhat with the installation of new, modern targets. These changes must be approved by the ATSC, USACE, and Fort Benning’s environmental divisions, and meet post and range safety requirements. The last piece to the puzzle is BOLC gunnery and the improvements that must be made to other existing ranges without the support of BRAC money. The internal Fort Benning range operations have begun effective upgrades designed to support the Armor School’s future activities. A second offensive lane and new target emplacements will be installed at Car-mouche MPTR. This range is critical to certain training events because it provides the capability (although limited) to fire saboted light armor penetrator tracer (SLAPT) and 105mm sabot training ammunition. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and building Armor School requirements at Fort Benning won’t be either. Understanding that our new home will require additional construction and changes to ranges in the future should not be that difficult. Like any new homeowner, after you buy the house you may want to add a deck or widen the driveway, and Fort Benning will be no different. Once the Armor School is on the ground, we will closely monitor all units and their training requirements to ensure we maintain a state-of-the-art training environment that prepares warriors for combat and keeps the Armor School on the leading edge of armor-focused capabilities. Once your unit relocates and you find yourself a bit further south than Fiddlers’ Green, enjoying the heat and humidity, you will be able to Charlie Mike! Sergeant First Class Vernon Prohaska is currently serving as the tank gunnery range and operation lead, U. S. Army Armor Center, with duty assignment to U. S. Army Infantry Center, Fort Benning, GA. His education includes studies at Sullivan University and Central Texas. His military education includes Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Recruiting School, M1A2 Tank Commander Course, Stryker RV Course, and Stryker MGS Course. His previous assignments include liaison officer, strategic planning cell, Fort Knox, KY; senior training management noncommissioned officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2d Battalion, 81st Armor (2-81 Armor), Fort Knox; tank gunnery platoon sergeant, HHC, 2-81 Armor, Fort Knox; and tank platoon sergeant, E Troop, 2d Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Iraq. “…Hastings Range has unique challenges due to poor soil composition that leaves a large portion of the ground poorly suited to support plant life. Without plants to hold the soil, the movement of tanks and Bradley’s would cause major erosion-control problems, adding to the already present erosion in the area, which is referred to as ‘mini grand canyons.’” — 51