In this issue, we are excited to include a “What Would You Do?” article. We present a tactical vignette from our editorial staff and invite you to write in and share how you would execute the mission. We look forward to reading your responses!
Hard copies will be available during the Sullivan Cup. If you are in the Fort Benning area during Armor Week, be sure to pick up the latest issue.
Standing Departments
Chief of Armor’s Hatch: ATP 3-20.96, Cavalry Squadron, is Changing the Fight by BG Chad C. Chalfont
This article announces the upcoming publication of the new Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 3-20.96, Cavalry Squadron, and explains the significant evolution in U.S. Army cavalry doctrine. It details the shift from a doctrine focused on the cavalry’s functions to one centered on its purpose for the force it supports.
From the Gunner’s Seat: Forging the Future of Armor Leadership – Modernizing NCO PME by CSM Ryan W. Roush
This article announces a fundamental overhaul of the training and education for U.S. Army Armor non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The new approach aims to create more lethal and adaptive leaders by delivering shorter, more focused, and specialized Professional Military Education (PME).
From the Boresight Line: From Proficiency to Lethality – The Framework for Continuous Improvement in Armored Crews by SFC Chas D. Ward and SFC Kenneth L. Shelton
This article argues that to prevent stagnation in proficient armored crews, leaders must shift from training for qualification to training for combat by using advanced simulations, focusing after-action reviews on combat-relevant metrics, and implementing complex challenges. For new crews, the focus should be on providing stability and sufficient time to master foundational skills, ultimately creating a cycle of continuous improvement for the entire unit.
From the Combat Training Centers: Data Overload – Observations on Data and Mission Command From JMRC by LTC Jordan Bradford, MAJ Edwin den Harder, and COL CJ Kirkpatrick
This article discusses the paradox of “data overload” in modern military operations, where the sheer volume of information from numerous digital systems overwhelms commanders and staffs, impeding timely and effective decision-making. It analyzes the causes observed at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) and proposes concrete best practices for managing this data deluge.
From the Doctrine Corner: Winning the First Fight – Modernizing Armor and Cavalry Doctrine by MCOE Directorate of Collective Training and Doctrine (DCTD)
This article outlines the U.S. Army’s comprehensive effort to modernize its doctrine, focusing on providing practical tactics for currently available equipment. Key updates include reframing the cavalry squadron’s purpose, integrating sUAS and electronic warfare, and overhauling gunnery manuals to enhance lethality, all while soliciting feedback from soldiers to ensure relevance.
What Would You Do?
This article presents a tactical scenario from ARMOR magazine’s “What Would You Do?” column, challenging readers to devise a plan for an armor company to seize a chokepoint from a modern, drone-capable enemy. The task requires a 500-750 word response detailing an operational concept that integrates combined arms, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems.
Book Reviews: Brothers in Arms, One Legendary Tank Regiment’s Bloody War From D-Day to VE-Day, reviewed by RETIRED COL Chris R. Willis
Features
Data-Enabled Assessments: What Factors Correlate with Gunnery Excellence in ABCTs? by LTC Brian W. Bilfulco
This article uses statistical analysis to identify the key factors influencing the gunnery performance of tank and Bradley crews, moving beyond anecdotal evidence to provide data-driven insights for leaders. The study finds that individual crewmember attributes, prior experience, and unit-level support systems are significant predictors of success, allowing for more targeted and effective training.
Learning the Wrong Lessons: The Influence of Tanks in the Spanish Civil War on the U.S. Army by Maj Micheal Hanson
This article argues that the U.S. Army drew the wrong conclusions about tank employment from the Spanish Civil War, stunting its armored doctrine by favoring an infantry-support role. In contrast, the German Army correctly identified the need for powerful, massed tank formations, leaving the U.S. unprepared for the blitzkrieg tactics of World War II.
Creative Maintenance Solutions in a Fiscally Constrained Environment by MAJ Jordan L. Woodburn, 1LT Trevor N. Stanley, and 1LT James A. Puls
This article details how the 1-64 Armor Regiment used innovative, cost-effective maintenance solutions during a deployment, such as 3D printing replacement parts and leveraging the fabrication skills of allied forces. These methods allowed the unit to rapidly correct dead-lining faults, improve vehicle readiness, and save money in a fiscally constrained environment.
From Contact to Overmatch: Redefining Armor Fundamentals Through Transformation in Contact by COL Bryan Bonnema, MAJ Aram Hatfield, and MAJ David Strum
This article explains how the U.S. Army’s Armor branch is adapting its fundamental tactics to the modern battlefield of ubiquitous drones and sensors by introducing a new operational framework called Isolation–Exploitation–Regeneration (IER). The IER model prioritizes using unmanned systems for initial engagement, followed by a decisive strike with traditional armored forces, and a rapid reset for subsequent operations.
Steel Meets Sustainment; Key Takeaways from the 12-Day War by CPT Ben Kusinski
This article, written from the perspective of an Armor Officer, details the critical strategic and logistical lessons learned during a fictional 12-Day War in 2025. It emphasizes how sustainment operations are paramount to success in modern, large-scale combat operations against peer adversaries.
The Army’s New Maintenance Skills Test Program in the ABCT by CPT Gabriel Liranzo
This article advocates for the implementation of the Maintenance Skills Test (MST) program to standardize maintenance training at the operator level within Armor units, arguing that lessons from the Russo-Ukraine conflict and current manning challenges necessitate more self-sufficient crews. The author stresses that company commanders must prioritize the MST to foster a culture of ownership and enhance fleet readiness for large-scale combat operations.
Ukrainian Combat Employment of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle by 1LT Jack Lynch
This article argues that the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ tactical innovations with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), which often diverge from U.S. doctrine by emphasizing decentralized, autonomous operations, offer valuable lessons for the U.S. Army. By examining how Ukraine uses the BFV for mobile fire support and ambushes, the author highlights the need for U.S. doctrine to prioritize adaptability and empower small-unit leaders.
A Rapidly Changing Operational Environment: Cavalry Scouts Need to Be Painfully Light and Disproportionately Lethal by SSG Matthew Watson
This article argues that the modern battlefield, characterized by pervasive drone surveillance and rapid sensor-to-shooter links, demands a radical reinvention of Cavalry Scout tactics. The author, a Staff Sergeant, contends that scout sections must become “painfully light” through extreme signature management and dispersion, while also being “disproportionately lethal” by integrating organic loitering munitions and networked fires to survive and remain effective.
