European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday january 18. 1986 the stars and stripes Page 9 Center enables gis to learn new weapons la Mike  staff writer , Germany major new weapons syst com won t do army unit in Ilu rope much Gin if soldiers cannot operate i hem or repair them when they break Down. Members of the 3rd army div of 1st in j3l Ann a at Gln Hauson recently  transition a lining at i. Seek Anil Graf  or and said Ilic combined arms train ing Werher 1c at makes sure soldiers can dub Oili. The bulk of Iran Ilion training for Sari Ull sol. Diers citing them a Abrams tank Bradley m-2/m-j infant  righting vehicle artillery tact1ke fire Uon Irol system and lie Slinger anti aircraft missile is handled at the Tenter.  . Col. Joseph Pinch director of transition Irain inc. Maintenance training also is provided at cat for people who will work on the trucked Carrier of the multiple launch in excl system . Training per owls Range from  for the so mgr to six months for the tack Irh system. Abrams Crews face 3h Days of transition training while uni Uley Crews train for 4j Days without a Day off said maj. Terry acc j. Eastman Bradley department director. Capt. To Nwulia u. , 29, said his 3rd atm div. Soldiers weren t mentally prepared for the schoolroom. They were in the Choli room eight hours a Day then had to study until late to get ready for a lest the next Day he said. Study look the form of hands on practice. We stayed in the. M-1 tanks at night to learn the procedures to be tested the next Day the co a commander said his tankers returned to Gellhausen in Early september  proficient to operate their new Abrams. But it s going to Lake a Long time to become experienced Abrams tankers Fisher said. In the past 25 months an estimated 440 Bradley Crews Ami 3,200 main Lenaric people were i Antis at cat last main said. Schedules allow for four Battal ions per year on the Abrams plus other classes for the tank s Noiin Tenanes people.tacf1re, which requires one teacher for every four students handles about 330 people a year., said my Richard i. Kendall chief of transition training for the highly technical artillery fire control system. Some transition training goes easily and quickly be cause soldiers already arc operating similar systems trainers said. Moving from the m-60 tank to the Abra stank is an adjustment but not a total change. You d have to have transition training said sgt. Ken Neth r. Green a 26-year-old Lank gunner from co by tote co c Soldier said even experienced m-60 Tan hers just can step into them a and say in  them fio stinger transition training is off Dally Fin Kedi now that the system has been completely fielded in  Pho Saitar Sis Oil. Staff sri. Antlions us Sib. Slinger department director at cat fires a rocket St a Sumii ruled merry aircraft. Eur find said the Mission of those trainers has Book procedures Ami test equipment simulators to identify switched to sustaining skills he said. The malfunction Ihen Annke the necessary repairs. But Watiers who Are non dedicated part time opera there s nothing at cat to simulate is Norm the Abrams tors still show up without any previous training said staff or Bradley however. Driving is Learned by do Nyji. But rot set. Anthony . Stinger department director. Until soldiers can qualify for a Driver s License. Sgt. Anthony i. Training progresses from classrooms and maintenance Bays into the Field for tank and Bradley Crews culminating in Range fire Anu a five Day exercise. Augmenting the live fire is time on gunnery simulators called conduct of f ire trainers Coits. The Coati Are harder to control than the tank. After you be mastered the Cost you can fire the tank with no  said sgt. Stephen r. Lid wards 26, of Mckinney Tunas. The co d gunner said transition training went into More detail about operation than he had on the m-60 during advanced individual training. Other training devices such As troubleshooting panels and a Turret lockup for the. My also give maintenance people a Quick comprehensive Way to learn their jobs without having to damage an actual tank to fix it. The panels and mock Turret can be set up by instructors to malfunction in Many different ways. Slu Danu use by the i had to pass several tests to gel i License mid . David l. Fosler ii 19-year-old co h Abrams Driver from Warren . The less required Fosler la demonstrate proper sequences of procedures for such things As operating a fire extinguisher to what should be done in emergencies. Part of inc training tank Drivers receive at cat includes High Speed runs and negotiating obstacles. I had enough practice to do my Job Fosler Siili. Bul after transition we went on spearhead Victory a training exercise and we Girt big Tinc practice on thai. Fisher Edwards and Fosler said expense on the a Tams will conic with practice but i lie transition train ing at cat was so comprehensive they feel confident in their ability Lon Craic effectively. Noddins i come up since transition that they did t  Tosser said. Stiff Sei a com a is the of the gunnery skills being exercised by a Brisky commander and gunner