Posted on Dec 31, 2015
MAJ A/Xo
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http://www.benning.army.mil/armor/eARMOR/content/issues/2015/JUL_SEP/3Cooper15.pdf

Great Article in ARMOR Magazine about the history and possible future of Master Gunner School . It got me thinking on a question I've always wondered about why officers cannot attend this course. Curious to here response. After BOLC many officers attend some form of additional schooling prior to their first duty assignment so why not make Master Gunner school an option on the list?
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Responses: 13
SGM Erik Marquez
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Edited >1 y ago
It is a technical mastery that is wasted on the professional officer who trains and learns to trust his NCO's
While all knowledge is good, and an Armor officer who had the knowledge you have to have to get in to MG school, and the knowledge you leave with would not be bad.. It would be wasted. a better question is, what is that company grade officer doing to fix his unit, that is so broken, he is being distracted from his duties to those assigned and tasked to his NCO's?
Thus feeling the need get the required prereq experience to attend MG school, and the knowledge gained from it? Additionally, who is doing that company grade officers job while he is playing NCO?
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CPL William Hubbard
CPL William Hubbard
8 y
Not once did I ever see an officer on the line during bore sighting or in a tower when we verified our bore sight
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COL Business Development
COL (Join to see)
8 y
Wow, not good. As a tank commander I always was there with my crew when we bore sighted our tank. A tank PL has 3 jobs; PL, section leader and tank commander. No company level officer is too important to not participate in the maintenance of their tank.
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SPC Douglas Hemmingway
SPC Douglas Hemmingway
8 y
I can see where you are coming from and I think it is correct as this is mostly an NCO area where they should be grooming their E-4s and above for Gunner and Tank Commander slots who have a knack for the job.
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SSG Russ Lance
SSG Russ Lance
8 y
I have been on a lot of bore sight zero operations and I always had the tank commanders no matter what rank they were present it is one of the most important skills a TC and crew do. I don't believe officers need to add master gunner to there duties as it has been said before leave it to the nco
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COL Business Development
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Simply stated, it's NCO business. I think there is a big problem when officers don't let NCOs do their job then wonder why they don't have competent NCOs. As someone else stated Master Gunner school has a pre-requisite of significant experience with the weapons system, Bradley or M1. I feel it is more important for Armor and Cavalry officers to attend Scout Platoon leader's course (if it still exists) and/or Ranger school. I was fortunate to attend both and I feel it made me a better PL. I relied on my NCOs to be the SMEs in gunnery. One thing to add is the Armor lieutenant does command his tank and must be proficient in gunnery but it's also important to have a highly competent gunner on the vehicle to supervise the crew.
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MSG Michael Caldwell
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No, this is just another way to say that you don't trust your NCO's. This is a position that is given to a trusted NCO that has met all his required task and has proven his ability to handle the position. With that said, would you like for NCO's attending your required courses?
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