Making a Tanker

We followed seven recruits as they traveled the path from civilian to Soldier.
This is Bassam Cozzos’ story.

His journey first begins at 30th Adjutant General (Reception) Battalion.

Cozzo and other trainees pay close attention to instructions from drill sergeants on the first official day of Armor One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Cozzo joined to serve as a U.S. Army Tanker or 19 Kilo. He will spend the next 20 weeks here training.

Cozzo attempts to "zero" the M4 carbine rifle using the backup iron sights. During Week 2, the trainees begin to fire rifles with live ammunition. Up to this point, weapons training has focused on breathing and trigger squeezing through digital simulation classes. The standard is to zero an M4 with the backup iron sight. Zeroing a firearm is adjusting the sights so the bullet hits where aimed.

"I’m nervous and intimidated. I’m struggling to understand certain things but I didn’t come here to fail. I will succeed."

The trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, negotiate the Confidence Tower on Harmony Church during Week 6 of training. Rappelling the tower correctly is a graduation requirement for trainees.

"It’s all a mindset. If you accept defeat you’ll be defeated 100 percent of the time."

Cozzo drives a tank simulator designed to replicate in real-time the look and feel of driving a tank in a combat.

Cozzo and other trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, are instructed on general maintenance and the components of the U.S. Army’s M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. Trainees spend several days learning the ins and outs of the vehicle that they will crew.

The trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, drive M1 Abrams tanks around the Ground Mobility Division's course at Sandy Hook Range. The M1 has a maximum speed of 42 mph and a range of 256 miles.

Cozzo retrieves and passes ammunition to a tank crew member as they prepare to fire the M1 Abrams tank for the first time. Discarded sabot round cases stack up as trainees take turns firing.

Cozzo and the trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, fire the main gun on the U.S. Army's M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. The M1 Abrams uses a 120 mm smoothbore gun that fires a variety of rounds capable of destroying enemy armor from great distances.

After a 12-mile ruck march, the trainees of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, receive their U.S. Army Armor insignia, at a transition ceremony on Harmony Church. The insignia features an M26 Pershing tank with its gun slightly raised, superimposed on two crossed cavalry sabers in scabbards.

After 20 weeks of One Station Unit Training, Pvt. Bassam Cozzo, along with the men and women of Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 81^st Armor Regiment, graduate. They are now officially 19 Kilos or U.S. Army Tankers. They will now join U.S. Armored divisions around the world.