European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 13, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Is Phot by Jeffrey Whitted sgt. Larry Wagoner strains to lift a 60 Pound training round in strength test like sprinting on your Knees 8th inf div Tanker at Baum older after Low crawling under four tanks something a Tanker has to do All the racing against the clock . Craig Bowen Hustles to jump in and crawl out of tank Turret fast As he can. By Rick Maze staff writer Ankers in Baum older Are finding the two mile run and a few other routine exercises known in military circles As the daily dozen Aren that they need. What they do need seems to be crawling under Over and around their tanks and lifting pushing and Roll ing heavy Metal which includes rounds of ammunition wheels and treads. When working around my tank i Don t use my legs i use my arms and Chest. Running is All right. I Don t min the two mile run but it s not the kind of exercise i need " said Cpl. Danny Gawne 21, of Flint Mich. Gawne is one of several 8th inf div soldiers in Baum Holder testing what officials said with minor alteration could become the Standard 8th inf div tankers test. It involves what one official Calls wind sprint Speed and therms of an the five exercises tested Are Low crawling under four tanks pressing a 60-Pound ammunition round Over the head manually turning the Turret 180 degrees crawling in one Hatch and out the other of four tanks in a line and replacing a Road wheel. Many of the soldiers taking the timed exercises said they Felt the Low crawl under the tanks to be the roughest of the lot. One explained it s like sprint ing on your one tank commander crawling out from under the tanks at the completion of the Drill told a colonel watch ing the test sir some of those tanks Are lower a lieutenant suggested wearing a steel helmet might be appropriate during the crawl. One specialist four climbed from under the last tank Bent Over like an old Man holding his lower Back. Along with several obscenities he mumbled i hit the second to last officials said the fastest time in the crawl was 22 seconds. Using their Point system 24 seconds is considered perfect score. I m beat that s for sure said sgt. Roger Burkhalter 24, of Aruada Colo and with two events left to go ill be very Burkhalter said some of the test takes brute strength but some just need know How. Brute strength is what it takes for the ammunition lift where each Tanker is Given one minute to raise the 60 Pound training round Over his head As Many times As pos sible. Officials said the Drill is realistic. That s one of the things a Tanker does regularly lug manually rotating the Turret also takes pure muscle finals said. You must have to Crank about 500 times in i tight Little Circle to get the Turret around. You finish Itiat event and you Are the Road wheel test is the most dramatic. Ivich person is required to pull an often stubborn Road wheel off the Hub move it about 25 Yards any Way Possi i get a replacement wheel and put it Back on the tank. This event takes a bit of skill but it s something a Duiker has to do All the time one platoon Leader said. During the test a few soldiers found the Road wheel did t want to cooperate. One seasoned non commissioned officer told a Young private struggling against the clock you be got to talk to it a few kicks later the wheel came free. The private received a round of applause As he completed the event. You can Tell who is new Here one participant whispered to a Friend. The reason for the new it test is simple i Hope to hell a Tanker will never have to run two Miles. If they do something s gone wrong with our Battle plan said it. Col. Gordon Bratz newly assigned commander of the 1st in 68th Armor. What does a Tanker do one officer said. He lifts ammo evacuates the tank in a hurry and runs Short Dis Tances quickly. That s where we need the work not in running Long said command emphasis now seems to be on physical training that directly benefits the Soldier adding he thinks the Tanker s it which his unit is testing might be what Armor units need to develop their arms and added it would be used with but not in place of Standard army physical training tests. The heavy test is designed so a platoon commander could take a half hour sometime during the Day to run the drills but Brantz admits it might be awhile before it s that also has developed a Light test using spare will involve a Soldier carrying treads on his Back a certain distance pulling a Tow Cable and running Short m using Muscles that Haven t been pulled in awhile said . Gary Bowen 24, of Jacksonville ark., after completing the heavy drills. He added that after the exercises he planned to spend a lot of time in a hot Shower. Page 14 the stars and stripes tuesday september 13, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 15
