ARMOR, November-December 1999 Edition

54 Pages·2011·6.65 MB·English

Saddle Up... Tonight We Ride
“Red one-one, White two-one, this is Blue three-one, Exe- cle is a wake-up call for company commanders who either fail
cute Sierra Delta, Time Now!” to engage or do so haphazardly (Note: One should include
habitually attached platoon leaders in the training and com-
A very long time ago, this cryptic radio message sent three
municating). Neglecting this mission-essential task will sooner
platoon leaders to a specified frequency known only to them
or later return to haunt company commanders and may mani-
(or so they thought). Once they had made the switch to their
fest itself through a bandit frequency, confusion at an obsta-
“bandit frequency,” Radio Free Company Commander, the
cle site during a CTC rotation, or worse yet, a disaster during
three platoon leaders were able to converse freely. The sub-
a real-world mission in some exotic location.
ject was usually the same: “Do any of you guys know what
the heck is going on?” I’m told that ARMOR was prohibited some time ago from
publishing obituaries, promotion notices, etc., but I would be
Unfortunately, it was seldom any of the three did, so without
remiss if I failed to note the passing of COL Orville “Sonny”
a clue and with the small amount of information gleaned from
Martin, a WWII veteran whose service of 31 years included a
a company commander notorious for keeping important in-
stint as the 29th Editor of ARMOR. COL Martin titled his col-
formation to himself, the three platoon leaders worked out
umn “reconnoitering” and a look back at his January-
courses of actions and a tentative plan.
February column in 1970 provides a pretty good account of
Eventually, sister companies were invited into the bandit what we seek to accomplish with ARMOR today: “A journal
frequency net, in the hope that perhaps their company com- records deeds, and probably even more important, it puts
manders had passed along the information ours had ne- forth words which are the communication symbols of men’s
glected to convey. All went well, the net proved useful, and thoughts. In a truly professional journal, this is done not to
the lieutenants discovered secrets they had only dreamed propagandize nor to grind someone’s axe but to stimulate
about in the past...their company’s mission, the enemy situa- honest and sincere thought leading to forthright discussion
tion, stuff like that. The station’s popularity began to grow, and which will indeed result in professional thought.” We thank
our heroes soon got overconfident. Too many people knew COL Martin for all his words.
about the bandit frequency, and we should have expected
The holidays are fast becoming near targets and for most of
trouble.
us this means many of the usual drills: half day schedules
All good things must come to an end, and Sierra Delta’s end that don’t work or are not followed, frantic shopping on the
came when a carefree conversation questioning the mental 24th, and creative financial planning to survive the season.
ability of our company commander was interrupted by a less- However, to a great many cavalrymen and tankers, it means
than-ecstatic Black six. Talk Radio, Sierra Delta was off the separation from loved ones. We’ve all missed our share of
air. holidays, birthdays, school plays, first communions, etc.; it
goes with wearing the tree suit. Still, it isn’t easy. Before I get
Bandit frequencies are not new; they exist all over today’s
caught up in the madness that marks the holiday season, I’d
Army. “Execute Sierra Delta” grew out of frustration from poor
like to offer my thanks to all those separated by duty from
leadership — a company commander who would neither
loved ones and a wish for their speedy and safe return.
communicate with nor train his platoon leaders. 1LT Clark
describes a similar frustration in his piece, “A Lieutenant’s And to the usual suspects — Tim, Bob, Phil, and a few oth-
Plea to Company Commanders.” Clark details the necessity ers — execute Sierra Delta.
of communicating with and training platoon leaders. The arti- — D2
By Order of the Secretary of the Army: Official:

ERIC K. SHINSEKI
JOEL B. HUDSON
General, United States Army
Administrative Assistant to the
Chief of Staff
Secretary of the Army
9922404
The Professional Development bulletin of the Armor Branch PB 17-99-6

Editor-in-Chief Features
MAJ DAVE DAIGLE
7 Mission 2000 – Making an Issue of Doctrine

Editor’s Note
Managing Editor
8 Urban Combat in World War II
JON T. CLEMENS
by Captain Ken Casey

Commandant 14 Move It On Over
by Brigadier General John Kirk (Retired)
MG B. B. BELL
24 Lighten Up, Guys
by Ralph Zumbro
ARMOR (ISSN 0004-2420) is published bi- 26 An Armor Battalion in Kosovo
monthly by the U.S. Army Armor Center, 4401 by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Reese, Major Kevin Farrell, & Captain Matthew Moore
Vine Grove Road, Fort Knox, KY 40121.
29 DoD Seeks Gulf War Field Sanitation Teams’ Observations
Disclaimer: The information contained in AR-
MOR represents the professional opinions of 30 Cecil’s Ride: A Tank Platoon Leader in Desert Storm
the authors and does not necessarily reflect by Captain David Norton
the official Army or TRADOC position, nor
does it change or supersede any information 36 Designing the Future Infantry Vehicle
presented in other official Army publications. by Stanley C. Crist
Official distribution is limited to one copy for 40 A Lieutenant’s Plea to Company Commanders
each armored brigade headquarters, armored by First Lieutenant J. P. Clark
cavalry regiment headquarters, armor battalion
headquarters, armored cavalry squadron head- 42 The Urban Field Trains
quarters, reconnaissance squadron headquar- by Captain J. M. Pierre
ters, armored cavalry troop, armor company,
and motorized brigade headquarters of the 44 Armor Movie Classics: Your Nominations Please...
United States Army. In addition, Army libraries, by Jon Clemens, Managing Editor
Army and DOD schools, HQ DA and MACOM
staff agencies with responsibility for armored, 46 Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
direct fire, ground combat systems, organiza-
48 10 Division Armor/Cavalry Geographical Locations
tions, and the training of personnel for such
organizations may request two copies by 49 LISTING: Active Component Units
sending a request to the editor-in-chief.
51 LISTING: Marine Corps Tank Battalions
Authorized Content: ARMOR will print only
those materials for which the U.S. Army Armor 52 LISTING: Army National Guard Units
Center has proponency. That proponency
55 LISTING: Army National Guard Brigade Commanders
includes: all armored, direct-fire ground com-
bat systems that do not serve primarily as 57 1999 Abrams TO&E Laydown
infantry carriers; all weapons used exclusively
in these systems or by CMF 19-series enlisted Back New Sight Incorporated in M1A2 (SEP) Tanks
soldiers; any miscellaneous items of equip- Cover Improves Lethality... and Survivability
ment which armor and armored cavalry organ-
izations use exclusively; training for all SC Departments
12A, 12B, and 12C officers and for all CMF-
19-series enlisted soldiers; and information
2 Contacts
concerning the training, logistics, history, and
leadership of armor and armored cavalry units 3 Letters
at the brigade/regiment level and below, to 5 Commander’s Hatch
include Threat units at those levels. 6 Driver’s Seat
58 Reviews
Material may be reprinted, provided credit is
given to ARMOR and to the author, except
where copyright is indicated.
Periodicals Postage paid at Fort Knox, KY, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Editor, ARMOR,
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Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
November-December 1999, Vol. CVIII, No. 6 USPS 467-970
Directory — Points of Contact

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ARMOR Editorial Offices U.S. Army Armor Center
Editor-in-Chief Commanding General (ATZK-CG)
MAJ Dave Daigle 2249 MG B. B. Bell 2121
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Managing Editor Deputy Commanding General (ATZK-DCG)
Jon T. Clemens 2249 BG R. Steven Whitcomb 7555
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Editor Chief of Staff (ATZK-CS)
Vivian Oertle 2610 COL Frank J. Gehrki III 1101
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COL Matthew L. Smith 8247
U.S. Army Armor School E-Mail: [email protected]
TRADOC System Manager for Force XXI (ATZK-XXI)
Director, Armor School (ATSB-DAS) COL Brett H. Weaver 4009
COL Richard P. Geier 1050 E-Mail: [email protected]
E-Mail: [email protected]
TRADOC System Manager for Abrams (ATZK-TS)
Armor School Sergeant Major (ATSB-CSM) COL James H. Nunn 7955
CSM Carl E. Christian 7091 E-Mail: [email protected]
E-Mail: [email protected]
Mounted Maneuver Battlespace Battle Lab (ATZK-MW)
NCO Academy (ATSB-NC) COL Richard T. Savage 7809
CSM Kevin P. Garvey 5150 E-Mail: [email protected]
E-Mail: [email protected]
Office, Chief of Armor (ATZK-AR)
16th Cavalry Regiment (ATSB-SBZ) Aubrey Henley 1272
COL Michael D. Jones 7848 E-Mail: [email protected]
E-Mail: [email protected] FAX 7585
1st Armor Training Brigade (ATSB-BAZ) Special Assistant to the CG (ARNG) (ATZK-SA)
COL William J. Blankmeyer 6843 COL D. Allen Youngman 1315
E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected]

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2 ARMOR — November-December 1999
L ETTERS
cars, jeeps, and helicopters in order to ac- Merkava Is Plenty Mobile,
complish the mission. An old axiom is that a Says One Who’s Driven It
scout must abandon his mount, if necessary,
in order to get information back to those who Dear Sir:
need it.
I read Jon Clemens’s Tank Assessment
Without question, the best motorized scout Survey article with great interest. While I really
vehicles during World War II, Korea, and Viet- can’t comment on the order of merit between
nam were the radio and gun jeeps in the scout the Leo II and the M1A2, my gut tells me that
sections of the recon platoon. Many other the M1A2 is a better all-around tank, if for no
armies have used armored cars in their re- other reason than it’s our tank. I will say what I
connaissance units for decades. After the said to the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland in
Korean War, the U.S. chose to develop an 1982 when we were trying to sell the M1 to
armored track vehicle for the scout. Against the Swiss in competition with the Leo II: “They
the recommendations of the U.S. Army Armor are both great tanks, and I’d be happy to take
Scout Vehicle Photo Recalls & Engineer Board, the M-114 was placed in either one into combat.”
WWII Skirmish in France the inventory and was a disaster from day
My problem with the assessment is the
one. In 1969, the Army went further and put a
Number 10 position of the Israeli Merkava,
20mm cannon on the M-114 so it could en-
Dear Sir: based on “...its poor power to weight ratio,
gage enemy recon elements at long range. I
which limits its mobility...” It’s obvious to me
On return from vacation, I read with interest told a group of generals at a Combat Vehicle that the assessors have not had a hands-on
the July-August issue, particularly the article Review, “The mission of scouts is not to fight; look at the Merkava and are basing their as-
by Major Tolson. The M-8 armored car in the they are to remain unseen. Do not give them sessment on what has been printed in the
picture on page 26 was that of LT Charles a cannon because then they lose their mis- open press and not on its true operational
(“Buck”) Rogers, of A Troop, 87th Cavalry sion.” capabilities. I’m sure that their comments refer
Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), the We cannot armor a vehicle used for scouting to the Merkava Mk I, with its 750-hp AVDS
organic recon of the 7th Armored Div. I com- and protect it from all kinds of weapons sys- 1790 Teledyne Continental engine, and not to
manded the 2nd Platoon of E Troop, the as- tems. The vehicle must be light and fast and, the current, in-service, Merkava Mark III, with
sault gun troop. Once we landed in Normandy at best, protect against spears, crossbows, its 1200-hp AVDS 1790 Teledyne Continental
and started to roll towards Chartres, my pla- and beer bottles. Of course, there is a need engine. Several years ago, while I was work-
toon was attached to A Troop and that may for a cavalry fighting vehicle to overwatch the ing at Teledyne, a study was conducted com-
well be my half-track just behind Buck’s M-8. movement of the scouts, in conjunction with paring the horsepower-to-weight ratios of the
This was the first time our column had been attack helicopters and other systems. Merkava Mk III (1200 hp) and the M1A1 (1500
fired on; that is the reason for the non-tactical hp). If memory serves me correctly, the Mer-
column and the curious troops. The point I want to make is that U.S. Armor kava’s 1200-hp engine, through a Renk
I later took over B Troop, and spent much of does not need new development of a dedi- transmission, delivered approximately 1000
the next months in an M-8. It was not a bad cated scout vehicle. The current research and hp to the sprockets, as did the M1’s 1500-hp
vehicle; one of my sergeants knocked out a development people should be aware of the turbine, through an Allison transmission — the
German Panther tank by creeping up behind it difference between the two being on the order
and putting a 37-mm round into the engine of 20 hp. If those figures are correct, there
compartment. It had the virtue of being not too should hardly be a difference power-wise
noisy. In the recon platoons, each armored between the two tanks. The only difference
car was teamed with two jeeps (called peeps then would be how the suspension system of
by Armored folk). I rode point on many an each tank handles the delivered 1000 hp.
occasion and the peep was so quiet, scouts Personal experience, after driving both tanks,
could hear leaves rustle. tells me that they both do it quite well.
After WWII, someone called together men I’ve had the privilege to drive five of the tanks
from various recon troops to talk about future in the survey, including the M1, the Leo II, the
vehicles. The heavy recon people (from Italy, The Commando Scout Vehicle Merkava Mk III, the Challenger, and the Le-
etc.), who had fought for information, won the Clerc. (I’ve also TC’d and gunned several of
battle over those higher numbered divisions numerous high mobility chassis available that them.) While my seat of the pants top marks
who had scouted for information and who would make good scout mounts. As long as go to the M1, I am truly hard-pressed to dis-
prized quiet and stealth. Never again would scouts have good communications, GPS, cern a difference between the cross-country
mounted scouts have sensitive hearing un- detection sensors, and laser designators, they mobility and agility of the Merkava in compari-
marred by vehicle and track noise. are good to go in many different configura- son to the M1 and/or the Leo II, which are
both head and shoulders above the other two.
tions.
WILLIAM A. KNOWLTON The Merkava runs like a scalded cat and is
GEN, U.S. Army (Ret.) I think the Army made a mistake by not not in any way horsepower-limited; if anything,
Arlington, Va. following through with the wheeled XR311. It it is ride-limited at very high cross country
would have turned out to be the best recon- speeds, as are both the M1 and the Leo II. By
Stealth in Scouting Requires naissance vehicle the Army ever had. Later, I that, I mean that the cross country speed of
Small, Quiet Vehicles, Not Guns think we dropped the ball with the Cadillac- each is only limited by the ride tolerance of the
Dear Sir: Gage Commando Scout. It had CBR protec- crew.
tion and was armored against rocks, nails,
I have studied Major Tolson’s article in the From an operational standpoint, the Merkava
and small arms fire. It was easy to mount and
July-August 1999 issue of ARMOR. I have a moves across the battlefield as well or better
dismount. It was cursed because it looked like
problem with this scout/cavalry vehicle di- than any other tank in the world, and to give it
an armored car and it had wheels — heaven
lemma. First, scouts do not fight! Second, they a dead last rating, based on its power-to-
forbid!
have in the past, and will in the future, employ weight ratio, (whatever it is) is an injustice to
any method of transportation to accomplish BURTON S. BOUDINOT the tank and the valiant tankers of the Israeli
their mission. History tells us that scouts LTC, Armor (Ret.) Armor Corps who put their lives on the line in
walked, rode ponies, horses, motorcycles, 31st Editor-in-Chief, ARMOR it every day.
ARMOR — November-December 1999 3
And yes, Madam Ambassador, I’d be happy weapons, easy and safe access through a - HQ 26 & 27 - Charlie Section
to go to war in a Merkava Mark III!! door in the rear of the hull, and the possibility
- HQ 28 & 29 - Delta Section
of carrying an infantry squad in place of the
STAN R. SHERIDAN
bulk of its ammunition or, alternatively, of Our platoon also happened to have an influx
MG, U.S. Army (Ret.)
evacuating casualties. of 11Hs (Anti-Armor Infantry), which pre-

sented us with a golden opportunity. We were
General Sheridan was program manager for As to its mobility, far from being “poor,” the
able to get an M998 HMMWV, which we had
the M60 tank program and first program man- power-to-weight ratio of the Merkava is more
manned by a scout, a medic, and a mechanic.
ager on the Bradley program. He is a former than adequate under tactical conditions and is
That vehicle was able to perform resupply,
Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Develop- not lower than that of some of the other tanks
recovery, evac, and -20 level maintenance,
ment and Acquisition, Department of the in the Survey. Moreover, its excellent suspen-
freeing up other vehicles so that more time
Army. – Ed. sion system provides more road wheel travel
could be spent on the mission.
than that of almost any other tank, which en-

ables it to move faster over rough ground. Our platoon had ten M2s, five MK-19s, and
two TOWS. At the time, we had no MILES for
When all its characteristics and capabilities
the MK-19s, so everyone had an M2 except
are taken into account and compared with
for the two TOW vehicles (one Alpha and one
those of other tanks, the Merkava proves to
Delta). Normally, the lieutenant and the two
be superior to most of them. In consequence,
section sergeants (21, 23, 26, & 28) had the
instead of being placed at the bottom it should
MK-19 and the PSG and squad leaders had
be near the very top of the list of tanks cov-
M2s.
ered by the survey.
When we went to the field, we received en-
RICHARD M. OGORKIEWICZ gineers, GSR, COLTS, linguists, and more. At
London, England one time, we had around 40 soldiers in and/or
attached to our platoon. This was probably
putting a strain on our resupply efforts, but we
Suggestions from a Scout Unit’s were definitely able to increase our endurance
Israel’s Merkava: Underrated in Survey? Successful Experimentation and our area of recon.

I believe that this TO&E is definitely benefi-
Israeli Tank Is Far Better Dear Sir: cial and worth mentioning.
Than Rated in Tank Survey I am a scout/driver with HHT, 1/16th Cav
Regt. I’ve been in the Army five years, spend- SPC JASON COMBS
Dear Sir: ing two at Ft. Carson and the remainder here. HHT, 1/16 Cav Regt.
I have had five rotations to NTC, one to Camp Ft. Knox, Ky.
The Tank Assessment Survey published in Doha, and one to a National Guard base in
the July-August issue of ARMOR contains a Idaho.
number of questionable judgments and none Another Source Cited
more so than when it places the Israeli Mer- I am not an officer with a college degree or For Info on the “Super Pershing”
kava “at the bottom of the Top Ten.” an NCO, junior or senior. I am just a simple

Joe, like many other Armor and Cavalry
As someone who has been involved with enlisted soldiers. But we also enjoy your Dear Sir:
armored vehicles around the world for many magazine, whenever we can scout it out from
years (it will soon be 50 years since my first one of our officers or NCOs. ARMOR Magazine for Jan-Feb 99, pages
article was published in ARMOR!) I have had 59-60, contains a review of Death Traps: The
the opportunity to examine the Merkava sev- Your magazine’s advice on jury-rigs, enemy Survival of an American Armored Division in
eral times, and only four months ago I was doctrine, and equipment help us (the EM) out World War II, reviewed by CW2 Stephen
able to drive and to fire it again. I think I might a lot. For example, the tailgate rack (back Sewell, in which the reviewer states that the
be more familiar with its characteristics than cover, May-June 1999 ARMOR) can help author of this book “provides the only known
the authors of the Survey and I cannot agree motorized scouts... Statistics on Soviet description of what he calls the “M26A1E2” or
with their judgment. equipment is important. They are major Super Pershing, better known formally as the
weapons exporters and, at the present time, “T26E4.” More than adequate information on
In particular, instead of “fairly advanced elec- most Third World nations that we might fight the T26E4 tank is provided in R.P. Hunnicutt’s
tronics,” the Merkava has a most advanced are going to be fielding this equipment against excellent book, PERSHING, A History of the
fire control system which was very effective, us. Medium Tank T20 Series, Feist Publications,
as I was able to find out for myself. Among
1971, which shows photographs, drawings,
others, the fire control system incorporates an Finally, I wish to submit an idea on scout pla-
and tabulated data of this vehicle and its 90-
automatic target tracker which, so far, is used toon organization in behalf of my former PSG,
mm Gun T15E2 in Mount T119. In addition,
in only one other tank. It also has a “hunter- SFC Duane La France, and the other scouts
some history of the adventures of the T26E4
killer” target acquisition facility, and the turret from 1/8 INF, 1/12 INF and 1/68 AR. This idea
in Europe is presented, together with photo-
drive is all-electric, for which some of the other was a doctrinal shake-up from the norm, but
graphs of local up-armoring.
tanks in the survey are rightly praised. was extremely beneficial.
For those not familiar with them, the books
In addition to its armor protection, which the At the time, the scout platoon had ten
by R.P. Hunnicutt on the subject of American
Survey recognizes to be among “the best in HMMWVs (five M1025s and five M1026s).
tanks are outstanding works covering devel-
the world,” Merkava enjoys the advantage of a The scout platoon for HHC 1/68 AR was di-
low frontal area turret, which reduces its vided as follows: opment and history of these vehicles, along
with photographs, drawings, illustrations of
chances of being hit in defensive, defilade - HQ 20 - LT details, and data in a large format with first-
positions, and unique protection of its ammu-
class reproduction.
nition against fire and spall. It also has the - HQ 25 - PSG
advantages of several other unique features,
- HQ 21 & 22 - Alpha Section
including a 60mm mortar for the engagement LEONARD E. CAPON
of infantry targets not accessible to direct fire - HQ 23 & 24 - Bravo Section Mesa, Ariz.
4 ARMOR — November-December 1999
C OMMANDER'S HATCH

The Revolution in
Institutional OES-AOB/AC3

by Major General B. B. Bell, Commanding General, U.S. Army Armor Center

Never before in our nation’s history Tactical and technical competence and performance-oriented training. Leader-
have the missions of the Army been as small unit leadership nested in the warrior ship, maintenance, gunnery, and tactical
complex, varied, and demanding as they ethos remain the centerpiece of our offi- training are progressively integrated
are today. The Army’s missions are di- cer and noncommissioned officer educa- throughout the course. Some fundamental
rectly linked to the role our nation is play- tion systems. (and exciting) improvements in AOB
ing in helping shape the international 2000 include:
The 16th Cavalry Regiment, which
environment where our interests are on
conducts Armor and Cavalry leader train- Leadership training is embedded on a
the line. While shaping the environment
ing for the Armor Center (less NCOES), daily basis. Every day is an opportunity
to prevent future conflict, we must also
is on the hook to produce adaptive war- to imbue the students with the Army’s
have forces ready to respond to a crisis
rior/leaders for our officer corps. The values and allow them to practice their
while ensuring our future systems and
primary mission of the 16th Cavalry leadership skills. From accountability
formations are prepared to meet future
Regiment is to provide the field with formations and inspections in the morn-
threats and operational environments.
trained officers at platoon through bri- ing, to student-led PT, to daily risk as-
The Mounted Force plays a vital part in gade level who are prepared to assume sessments, to student-led AARs, students
each of these missions, which range from leadership duties in Armor and Cavalry are responsible and accountable for much
being prepared to conduct high-intensity units. For company grade officers, they more than attending class. This is impor-
combat operations to conducting stability accomplish this during the Armor Officer tant for officers at this stage in their ca-
and support operations around the world. Basic Course for lieutenants, and the reers, as they undergo the soldierization
As evidenced by the role of mounted Armor Captains Career Course (AC3, process of transitioning to Army officers
forces in the decade of the ’90s, we are formerly AOAC) for captains. These and warfighters.
the Army’s full spectrum relevant force courses have undergone significant
Tactical training begins in the small
of choice. The stated intent of our Chief changes in the past year in an effort to
group classroom with rock drills, includes
of Staff is to provide the leadership, make leap-ahead improvements to our
considerable time in virtual simulation,
grounded in the future, to keep the Army leader training, and to keep pace with the
and culminates at the end of the course
the pre-eminent land warfighting force in needs of the Mounted Force.
with a 10-day FTX. This process includes
the world. The corresponding and central
12 days of training on the Close Combat
demands placed on the Armor and Cav- Our field commanders have told us that
Tactical Trainer (CCTT) to learn basic
alry community require us to be prepared they want us to enhance the quality of
maneuver skills prior to going to the
to accomplish an increasingly wide vari- training of our new lieutenants. We’ve
field. The 10-day FTX represents an ag-
ety of tasks to be successful. Inherent in gotten the message, and are committed to
gressive 4-day increase in field time dur-
these expectations is for the Armor Cen- providing the force with competent war-
ing the course.
ter to provide the force with leaders who fighting platoon leaders (with full spec-
are disciplined, competent, professional, trum skills) prepared to perform required Gunnery training begins during the
and tough enough to meet these demands. duties upon arrival at their next unit. This first week of the course with conduct of
The Armor Center and School will foster is our number one priority — we will fire and UCOFT, and culminates in the
the development of warrior leaders for start Armor officers off right. Presently, final week of the course with a modified
combined arms mounted warfare, as well AOB is undergoing a dramatic redesign TTVIII. Gunnery training includes an
as light-heavy operations, across the full implementation effort to substantially emphasis on basic hands-on tasks, such
spectrum of conflict in all terrain, to in- improve how we do this. A dedicated as TCGST, as well as TWGSS. Gunnery
clude complex and urban. This is easy to team was formed in April of this year to training is reinforced during all practical
say, but tough to do. Nonetheless, we can re-engineer the course. This effort, which aspects of tactical training. This repre-
(and must) produce these adaptive leaders we call AOB 2000, debuts 30 November sents an increase of one additional day of
capable of successfully operating across a 1999 with AOB Class 00-02. The AOB
wide range of asymmetric environments. 2000 design returns to the principles of Continued on Page 46
ARMOR — November-December 1999 5
DRIVER'S SEAT

Sergeant First Class Selection Results
Offer Lessons For All Leaders

by CSM David L. Lady, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Armor Center
The CY99 Sergeant First Class Selection panel gave credit for achieving diversity in opment Guide, it was considered a good
List will be history by the time this article assignments, but penalized many NCOs thing for an NCO to have some diverse
is published. As I write it though, the re- who were placed in these assignments assignments (especially as school instruc-
sults are fresh on the street and still under- before becoming branch certified as tank tors, drill sergeants, recruiters, AC/RC and
going formal and informal analysis. This is commanders or scout squad leaders. Those OC positions). However, the panel consid-
not a formal review and analysis of the soldiers had not proven themselves in key ered it a good thing only if the NCO was
board results. This article identifies certain leadership positions. The panel took into certified and had relatively recent experi-
important lessons that commanders, lead- account E-5 and E-6 service as tank com- ence with troops (within 4 or 5 years). My
ers, managers, and soldiers should draw mander or squad leader. No 19-series sol- guidance specifically reminded the panel
from the board results as they counsel and dier will be allowed to volunteer for a spe- that four years on Fort Knox would cause
assign their soldiers. cialty assignment before he is certified at back-to-back TDA assignments, but my
the proper grade for the certifying posi- reassignment policy over the last two
The selection panel stated that Armor
tion. PERSCOM and units should only years has caused NCOs to leave the Home
Center guidance as to what qualified a
assign NCOs to non-MOS or specialty of Armor after 48 months of service, al-
soldier for selection to SFC was “excel-
positions after they meet requirements for lowing for further certifying opportunity.
lent…extremely useful in enabling the
MOS certification in current grade. Armor
Panel to fairly evaluate the files.” This General Officer Letters of Reprimand
Branch is committed to following these
guidance was drawn from the newly up- (GOLARs) and UCMJ actions were seri-
rules; I will keep a close eye on them.
dated Enlisted Professional Development ous discriminators against an NCO. Al-
Every unit must be committed to these
Guide (May 1999). I have consciously though it is not impossible to overcome a
lessons as well; do not assign the uncerti-
kept board guidance consistent over these GOLAR, a “Values NO” on the NCOER,
fied into non-MOS positions (i.e., battalion
two years; with this guide, Armor soldiers or UCMJ action, NCOs were only com-
financial NCO, driver, training NCO, etc.).
can know what they must do and where petitive for promotion after extensive,
they must go in order to be “best of the The panel saw that entirely too many sustained, excellent performance over a
best.” There is no secret to how to succeed NCOER excellence ratings were not justi- very long period of time.
in the Armor Force: understand the re- fied with adequate bullet comments. The
Finally, the panel results show the excel-
quirements for each grade, be excellent at panel discounted excellence ratings by
lent overall quality of the Armor soldier,
whatever assignment you are given, certify raters who did not justify the rating with
and of the soldiers chosen to instruct at the
in each leadership position at each grade, an achievement, penalizing the NCO who
Armor School. The accelerated velocity of
and develop mentally and physically to be may have actually been deserving of an
soldiers onto and off of Fort Knox (in-
the best leader, coach, and example for excellence rating.
creasingly, three years is the standard tour
American soldiers. This guide can be ac-
When PERSCOM boasts of the lack of at the Home of Armor) has allowed Armor
cessed at the Armor Home Page, and cop-
inflation in the NCOER system, I must Branch to identify more certified soldiers
ies can be ordered from the Office of the
shake my head. There are too many com- to come to Fort Knox as instructors and
Chief of Armor. MG Bell has committed
missioned and noncommissioned leaders drill sergeants. The quality of their certify-
resources to increase the distribution to all
who feel that the NCOER exists to make ing service, combined with the quality of
Armor units. Call us, copies will come.
the sergeant feel good. This is rubbish! their specialty service, led to fully one
Certification remains the most important The NCOER exists to tell other leaders and third of the selectees coming from Fort
factor in selection for promotion. While centralized promotion panels the truth Knox. Do not let your soldiers think that
NCOs who had not been rated Success or about an NCO’s service over the rating Armor Center service is a career-ender. If
Excellence on several NCOERs during an period. A good rule of thumb to use when Fort Knox was a rest home at any time, it
18- to 24-month period were not ineligible deciding whether the bullet rates an Excel- is not so now. We bring in excellent NCOs
for promotion, they were least qualified lent or a Success rating is: if the NCO to produce the excellent soldiers and lead-
for promotion. According to the panel should have been relieved for not accom- ers of the future. We develop them and
president, no uncertified NCOs were se- plishing the bullet, then it is a Success. work the devil out of them. They are se-
lected. I emphasize that NCOs should not lected for their excellence and they are
The panel saw some soldiers staying in
focus on the time they spend in the posi- rewarded for their excellence.
TDA assignments for too many years. For
tion; focus on the excellence of the ser-
instance, instructors who became drill ser- Take these comments into account as you
vice in the position. Boards focus on the
geants or recruiters. In some cases, there counsel your soldiers and make your own
NCOER as proof of certification, not the
were soldiers who had been instructors, career decisions. To our 386 selectees: Well
2-1.
drill sergeants, and recruiters back to back, Done! You are excellent, and I am abso-
The panel understood the heavy require- and in some cases were away from their lutely confident that you will continue to
ments that Armor Branch has for drill ser- MOS for eight or nine years! TDA as- lead your soldiers by your superb example.
geants, recruiters, AC/RC duty, instruc- signments do not hurt promotion opportu-
tors, and other specialty assignments. The nity. In fact, IAW the Professional Devel- “SERGEANT, TAKE THE LEAD”
6 ARMOR — November-December 1999
Editor’s Note:
Mission 2000 - Making an Issue of Doctrine
Armor soldiers and cavalrymen are by profession men of action, chosen to carry out the close combat mission
of engaging and destroying the enemy. For many of these men, the very mention of the word “doctrine” trig-
gers the sleep reflex faster than a movie on the Lifetime Network.
But doctrine is critical to how we fight. It is our way of thinking about fighting, an agreed framework that also
defines how we train.
Sometimes, our doctrine does not suit the fight we later encounter. When this happens, the classroom of combat
quickly redefines the doctrine on the basis of on-the-job training and learning. One example is the way the U.S.
Army adopted its weak and incomplete doctrine on urban fighting during the course of World War II, a transi-
tion described in Captain Ken Casey’s article in this issue, “Urban Combat in World War II.” He describes
how the city fight evolved from an infantry-dominated struggle to an effective combined arms partnership key-
ing on cooperation between infantry, armor, and combat engineers.
Brigadier General (Ret.) John Kirk, in “Move It On Over,” approaches the importance of doctrine from
another direction. The repeated losses of BLUEFOR units to the OPFOR at the NTC, he argues, is not the
“good training” some would make of it, but indications of doctrinal failure. He says we don’t understand our
doctrine, leaders don’t mentor it, and as a result, soldiers can’t follow it. General Kirk’s article is a call for eve-
ryone to get involved in the review of the upcoming FM 100-5, Operations, our keystone doctrinal manual for
the next seven years. General Kirk’s opinions are validated by a lifetime of service, culminating in assignment
as Director of Training, ODCSOPS, at the Pentagon, and including two victorious rotations at the NTC with
one of the Army’s then-lowest priority units. A reply from Colonel Robin Swan, Director of SAMS, follows.
Ralph Zumbro, whose “Lighten Up, Guys” appears in this issue, is another author who has been there and
done that. He was a tank sergeant in Vietnam, terrain never doctrinally considered to be “tank country” until
tanks began to operate there successfully. Zumbro, who has written three books on armor operations since his
retirement, urges soldiers to look upon peacekeeping and stabilization deployments as “training wars” in which
units can practice many of the mission-essential tasks they would accomplish in an actual conflict. But we need
to be able to get there, he says, and that means developing the doctrine and hardware to deploy lighter armored
units to the world’s trouble spots.
Urban Combat in World War II
How Doctrine Changed as the War Progressed

by Captain Ken Casey

But it came to pass on the seventh Unfortunately, urban warfare has be- combat power, but left the executors of
day that they rose early, about the come much more complex than in the these fights to develop the specific de-
dawning of the day, and marched days of Joshua. In World War II, the U.S. tails. In most cases, the Army got it basi-
around the city seven times in the Army would take an immature urban cally right, but in some cases failed to
same manner. On that day only they warfare doctrine in its infancy, test it, appreciate the possibilities inherent in
marched around the city seven times. develop it, and change it, based on the their new weapons and doctrine, from the
And the seventh time it happened, new tactical realities, much as it had to do use of air power in support of attacking
when the priests blew the trumpets, with the rest of its doctrine. World War II forces to the use of tanks and tank de-
that Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, presented the U.S. Army with many chal- stroyers.
for the Lord has given you the city!’... lenges it had not previously faced on such
One of the great lessons the Army
And it happened when the people a grand scale.
would have to learn would be to adopt a
heard the sound of the trumpet, and
It would have been difficult to predict more integrated approach to fighting.
the people shouted with a great shout,
the precise set of tactics and combina- “Rather than relying on either the infan-
that the wall fell down flat. Then the
tions of weapons that would be needed to try, tanks, artillery, or air power alone to
people went up into the city, every
be successful in combat in both major get the job done, the American Army
man straight before him, and they took
cities and small villages. So, the Army set discovered it could only win battles by
the city.1
forth a basic doctrine on how to apply using all available manpower and mate-
8 ARMOR — November-December 1999