U.S. Army tankers Pfc. Justin Berg (right) and Cpl. Derek Stashak (left) discuss their plan for the live fire exercise Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. Army tankers Pfc. Justin Berg (right) and Cpl. Derek Stashak (left) discuss their plan for the live fire exercise Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. Army Tanker Spc. Emmett Fulgham prepares his tank for a live fire exercise, Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. soldiers in an M1A2 Abrams tank observe a Bangalore torpedo explode during a breach-clearing exercise, Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. soldiers in an M1A2 Abrams tank fire on targets during an exercise, Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle drives towards the a line of M1A2 Abrams tanks during a live fire exercise, Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
A U.S. Army tanker climbs on an M1A2 Abrams tank after a live fire exercise, Aug. 18, 2017, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — U.S. tankers from the Army's 1st battalion, 8th infantry regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted their final live-fire training Friday to prepare for the culminating event of their rotation in Europe.
During the exercise, a center force of M1A2 Abrams tanks, flanked on both sides by Bradley Fighting Vehicles, assaulted a mock enemy force that was obstructing a train station.
The training allowed small-unit leaders to work with a variety of Army assets to maneuver and fire in order to prepare for Exercise Combined Resolve next week.
The soldiers utilized unmanned aerial vehicles, mortars and artillery, as well as armor assets, to “punch a hole through enemy obstacles,” said 2nd Lt. John Bellet, the battle captain during the exercise.
"The whole world is watching us out here in Europe," Bellet said. “This shows them what we’re capable of."
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