The exercise utilised the U.S. Army’s most advanced battle tank on one of the base’s top-tier training ranges. Tank crews were evaluated on fuelling, tactical manoeuvres, target engagement, and sustaining operations over a full 24-hour cycle.
“This is about meeting a standard — and we’ll stay out here until that training objective is met,” said Lt. Col. David C. Smith, commander of 1-9 Cavalry Regiment. He emphasised that their “number one goal is lethality” and that training is deliberately rigorous to prepare troops for real-world demands.
Beyond weapon systems and tactics, the exercise placed a strong emphasis on leadership development under pressure. “They come to us with the desire to serve and do great things,” Smith noted. “We owe them experiences like this — where we challenge them with complexity, prepare them through repetition and give them feedback to build confident leaders.”
Despite physical exhaustion and operational stress, morale remained high among the soldiers throughout the demanding exercise. “Fatigue is inevitable when operating in extreme conditions,” Smith acknowledged, adding, “But when morale gets tested, it’s about communicating why… That’s how we motivate formations to keep doing the job.”
The training also served as a media engagement, giving journalists rare insight into the Army’s frontline preparation. FOX 44 reporter PJ Heussner, who attended the event, said, “Honestly, the coolest part was seeing the rawness of everything… This is their job, every single day.”
Heussner remarked on the impact of witnessing soldiers in action, describing the experience as eye-opening. “These people are putting their lives on the line to protect us,” she said. “It kind of makes you feel safe.”
The U.S. Army sees such outreach as essential to reinforcing public understanding of its mission and values. Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, public affairs officer for III Armored Corps, explained, “Bringing media out builds trust… It shows the public their Army is trained, sharp and proud to serve.”
Based at Fort Cavazos, the III Armored Corps commands more than 90,000 soldiers and accounts for nearly half of the U.S. Army’s total combat strength. Exercises like this underscore the importance of advanced platforms like the M1A2 SEPv3 in supporting both tactical excellence and leadership growth across the force.
