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Chief of Armor’s Hatch: Driving Change – Armor Brigade Combat Team Transformation
by Brig. Gen. Chad C. Chalfont

In this article, BG Chalfont outlines the Army’s “Transformation in Contact (TiC) 2.0” initiative to rapidly adapt Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) for modern warfare. The effort focuses on two key areas: integrating new technologies into select ABCTs during National Training Center rotations and experimenting with organizational changes like Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Companies and Armored Strike Platoons specializing in unmanned systems. The Armored Transformation and Standardization Initiative (ATSI) will support this by driving collaboration and reinforcing training standards – including UAS/C-UAS integration and maintenance proficiency – to enhance the ABCT’s overall capabilities .......read more

The Gunner’s Seat: New Armor School CSM and Focus Areas

This article announces the new Armor School Command Sergeant Major’s (CSM) assumption of responsibility, emphasizing continuity and a focus on developing dominant, technically and tactically proficient leaders for the armored force. The CSM prioritizes transparent communication with the force, strengthening relationships with ABCT and Division CSMs, and enhancing programs like the Master Gunner Program and the Sullivan Cup competition to identify and cultivate lethality. Ultimately, the CSM’s intent is to ensure the Armor School delivers highly trained Soldiers and leaders prepared to excel in combat and contribute to the overall readiness of Army formations. .......read more

From the Boresight Line: Enhancing Combat Effectiveness – Implementation of Collective Scanning Techniques
By Sgt. 1st Class Jesse R. Craven

SFC Jesse R. Craven discusses advanced optics and why they are crucial for armored vehicle effectiveness, enabling crews to gather information, identify threats, and make informed decisions. Effective scanning techniques – rapid, slow, horizontal, vertical, and detailed – are essential for maintaining situational awareness given the limited field of view of vehicle optics. Collective searching, utilizing overlapping, dividing, or in-depth sectors, maximizes threat detection by eliminating blind spots. Soldiers must be proficient in recognizing detection challenges (camouflage, environment, fatigue) and utilizing optics’ capabilities – including switching between wide/narrow fields of view and thermal/image intensification – to rapidly acquire targets. Investing in crew training to optimally utilize advanced optics is vital for maintaining a combat advantage on the modern battlefield. .......read more

From the Combat Training Centers: Reconnaissance and Security After ARSTRUC: Cavalry Squadrons are out, but R&S is Still in!
By Lt. Col. James Carrier, Capt. Mike Christy, Capt. Mike McKeon, and Col. CJ Kirkpatrick

In the article, COL Kirkpatrick and team describe how the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) provides unique training opportunities with diverse formations as the Army implements the new ARSTRUC structure. Despite evolving technology and near-peer threats, the fundamentals of reconnaissance and security (R&S) remain vital for Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). Historical examples, like the Battle of Arracourt, demonstrate the enduring importance of ground-based reconnaissance, especially when aerial assets are limited. A 2016 FORSCOM study further highlighted the feasibility of SBCTs conducting effective R&S, a finding relevant in the current post-ARSTRUC environment. The Army, through institutions like the Maneuver Center of Excellence and CTCs, must continue to adapt training to address these ongoing R&S challenges. .......read more

Gunnery Branch – C92: Training Circular 3-20.31-120, Gunnery: Heavy Tank – Tower Prompts
By Gunnery and Weapons Branch

This article describes forthcoming updates to TC 3-20.31-120 and introduces “tower prompts” as a vital component of gunnery training, designed to standardize engagements and reinforce doctrinal principles from TC 3-20.31-043 and TC 3-20.31-040. These prompts provide crews with administrative information and a collective fire command—covering alert, target description, method, location, and controls—to prepare them for each engagement while prioritizing force protection through fratricide prevention measures. Though provided as examples, tower prompts establish clear expectations and “what right looks like,” ultimately enhancing crew understanding and adherence to established standards; a follow-on article will address complex engagements in Table C. .......read more

Features

Unleashing the Leviathan: Transforming the ABCT to Win in LSCO
by Lt. Col. Christopher Hands and Lt. Col. Larry Kay

This article describes how recent conflicts demonstrate the need for the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) to adapt to a rapidly evolving battlefield characterized by advanced technology and increased lethality. To maintain relevance, the authors propose several key changes: strengthening maneuver capabilities by permanently assigning armor platoons to cavalry troops, adding an additional armor company to the BCT to provide a dedicated reserve, and restructuring Combined Arms Battalions to improve flexibility. Enhancing close fight capabilities requires increased organic indirect firepower with protected, mobile mortar systems integrated with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and loitering munitions. Furthermore, the authors advocate for expanding the use of robotic and autonomous systems for reconnaissance and establishing a resilient, mesh-networked communication system. Ultimately, transforming the ABCT to prioritize speed, lethality, and adaptability is crucial for future success, and should be undertaken while the US remains largely unengaged in large-scale ground combat. .....read more

AFN-OTM: Enabling Distributed Operations at the Tactical Level
by Lt. Col. Marreo Burch, Maj. Adam Black, and Chief Warrant Officer two Justin Carrier

This article describes how during NTC Rotations 25-03 and 25-04, the 1st Infantry Division successfully piloted the Armored Formation Network On-The-Move (AFN-OTM) system, marking a significant step towards distributed command and control. The AFN-OTM, comprised of advanced communication equipment including satellite terminals, radios, and drones, enabled 1ID to operate without relying on NTC’s fiber infrastructure – becoming the first division to complete a rotation “in the dirt.” This capability facilitated dispersed command posts, reduced electromagnetic signatures, and supported the Army’s priorities of continuous transformation, readiness, and adapting to emerging threats. The AFN-OTM’s success highlights its potential to revolutionize armored division operations by enhancing situational awareness, enabling seamless communication, and supporting a more agile and resilient force .....read more

Breaking Through: Combined Arms Maneuver Against Prepared Defenses
by Lt. Col. Darrell Fawley

This article discusses the Russo-Ukraine War and highlights the challenges of offensive maneuver against a prepared defense, demanding new tactics to avoid stalemate. Based on experience at the National Training Center, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment proposes five tenets for successful combined arms maneuver: driving specific intelligence to the tactical edge, conducting detailed reconnaissance to identify micro-terrain, employing smoke and suppression to enable maneuver, utilizing a capable advanced guard focused on a narrow point of penetration, and conducting bounding overwatch with rapid sprints from defilade. These tenets emphasize thorough planning, rehearsal (particularly Combined Arms Rehearsals), and synchronization of assets. By prioritizing these principles, units can enhance their ability to break through defenses and achieve objectives in large-scale combat operations, countering the trend towards defensive warfare observed in recent conflicts. .....read more

General Abrams’s Impact on Modern Armored Warfare and the M1 Legacy
by Sgt. Maj. Steve Gonzalez

This article describes how General Creighton W. Abrams profoundly shaped the U.S. Army’s Armor Branch through his leadership in World War II, his emphasis on combined arms maneuver, and his influence on doctrine and training. He championed aggressive tactics, realistic training, and decentralized decision-making, principles that continue to inform Army practices today. This legacy is embodied in the M1 Abrams tank, named in his honor, which reflects his vision for a fast, protected, and lethal fighting force. From influencing the Air Land Battle doctrine to shaping modern Mission Command principles, General Abrams’s impact extends to current operational concepts and leader development programs. As the Army modernizes with the M1E3, his tenets of adaptability and decisive action remain central to maintaining a competitive edge on the battlefield, solidifying his enduring legacy within the force. .....read more

The 10X Tank Platoon
by By Ted Maciuba

Ted Maciuba describes how achieving a tenfold increase in tank platoon lethality requires shifting from incremental Abrams upgrades to a robotics and AI-centric system-of-systems approach, mirroring the success of the Army’s 10X initiative with dismounted infantry. This means augmenting tanks with networked drones and robotic platforms to dominate the airspace, extend engagement ranges, and distribute lethal effects, while prioritizing lighter designs, advanced communications, enhanced survivability, and breakthroughs in technologies like fusion power and AI-driven automation – effectively enabling a platoon to operate with the impact of a much larger force. ......read more

Transformation on the Frontier’s Edge: 2CR’s Once and Future Legacy
by Maj. Andrew Kang and Maj. Michael R. Nilsen

MAJ Kang and MAJ Nilsen describe how since its mid-19th century formation, the 2d Cavalry Regiment (2CR) has consistently operated at the forefront of U.S. national policy, adapting and transforming in response to evolving geopolitical challenges – from westward expansion and the Civil War to the Cold War, the Global War on Terror, and now, Great Power Competition. As the sole forward-staged Stryker brigade in Europe, 2CR embodies the principle of “transformation in contact,” continually innovating and testing new concepts to shape Army policy and acquisition. This adaptability is exemplified by its transitions from horse-mounted dragoons to mechanized forces in WWII, its crucial role in Desert Storm, and its recent validation of the Stryker platform in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, 2CR is pioneering the implementation of NATO’s new Force Model, leveraging networked command and control systems like Maven and Nett Warrior to rapidly scale multinational battle groups, demonstrating its continued commitment to remaining at the “frontier’s edge” of innovation and interoperability in support of European security. ......read more

Interwar Mechanization to Transformative Robotization
by Kasey O’Donnell

In this article, Kasey O’Donnell writes that history demonstrates winning the next conflict will depend on effectively employing technological advancements – like robots and autonomous systems – rather than simply inventing or adopting them first. This requires a clear problem to solve, rapid iteration, and collaboration between developers and military formations, mirroring the U.S. Army’s experience between 1923 and 1943 when it developed 89 tank variants to evolve from the Renault FT to the M4 Sherman. Today’s robotic development faces similar challenges: early robotic systems lacked clear purpose, mirroring the interwar debate over tank roles. While experimentation has increased through programs like Project Convergence, a consistent doctrinal framework and organizational placement remain elusive. Just as the interwar period saw divergent approaches globally, today’s robotic development varies internationally. The U.S. Army’s current layered approach—emphasizing iterative testing and integration—reflects a lesson from history: progress isn’t about building perfect robots but systematically refining them to solve defined tactical problems and contribute to a winning force, requiring a commitment to rapid iteration and bridging the gap between technology and operational needs. ......read more

Combined Arms in Urban Operations: Insights into ATP 3-06.11
by Capt. Logan S. Yates

Recent conflicts and the evolving urban landscape highlight a critical knowledge and training gap within Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) regarding combined arms operations in urban terrain. Despite the Army’s updated doctrine in ATP 3-06.11 – which moves away from an “infantry-centric” view – RTUs consistently struggle to effectively integrate combined arms during training exercises. This article, drawing on experience as an OPFOR platoon leader at the National Training Center, attendance at the Urban Operations Planners Course, and case studies from Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas War, argues for a renewed focus on equipping and training Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) for urban warfare. Keys to success are employing forces as combined arms teams, managing the population, and isolating threats – principles that require deliberate task organization, integration of enablers like engineers and civil affairs, and a shift in training to incorporate urban environments. The author recommends implementing combined arms teams early in training plans and incorporating urban training sites into all collective exercises to build proficiency and prepare for the increasing likelihood of operations in complex urban terrain. Ultimately, bridging the gap between doctrine and practice is crucial for ensuring ABCTs can effectively fight and win in the urban battlespace ....read more