Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Soldier Becomes 1st Female Army Guard M1 Abrams Tank Master Gunner By Army Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes,
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. – Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Cox became the first female Army National Guard Soldier to graduate the Army National Guard Warrior Training Center’s M1 Abrams Master Gunner course last month, earning the title and additional skill identifier of Abrams Master Gunner. The 53-day course at Fort Benning, Georgia, upskills accomplished armor crew members like Cox and hones their proficiency in tank gunnery and maintenance. Cox’s desire to impart knowledge to her home tank crew motivated her to attend the course. “I really enjoy the fact that you have one crew, and you become a family,” she said. “You have to take care of your track. If you don’t, you or a member of your family could die.” At the AMG, she and other students became experts in advising commanders at all echelons on tank operations, assisting with the planning, development, execution and evaluation of all combat and individual, crew and collective gunnery training. “Staff Sgt. Cox was excellent in her navigation of this course,” said Sgt. 1st Class Steven Camp, an instructor at the ARNG Warrior Training Center. “She had a wealth of tactical knowledge of tank operations from afar. Initially lacking technical knowledge, she was a quick learner, and when the opportunity presented itself, she was the first to volunteer.” As a newly minted master gunner, Cox is now a subject matter expert in advanced gunnery methodology, turret weapons systems maintenance, and gunnery training management. “I think that it’s amazing, the amount of knowledge to be able to diagnose exact components that you just wouldn’t be able to do as a normal crew member,” said Cox. Having had the M1 for only 18 months, Cox added that as a master gunner, her proficiency presents the Texas Army National Guard with a new baseline in armor education. “Being able to impart information from the base level forward so that we can start a program and make sure it goes correctly is exciting, and I’m excited to take all that back to my crew.” In and outside the tank, Cox’s armor family ties run deep. Her partner and fellow Texas ARNG member, Sgt. 1st Class Josh Simmons, graduated about a month before Cox from a master gunner course for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a lighter armored track vehicle. “We’re uniquely positioned in that we’re probably the only people who can really be in the same household and completely understand what one another is going through,” said Cox. The “armor couple” is looking forward to maximizing newfound knowledge from master gunner courses to make the state’s combat arms programs more lethal. “The Warrior Training Center is such a huge asset, particularly because in the National Guard, we’re not out on tanks 24/7. So, having a class that prepares you and gets you back in that mind frame is such an asset for success,” Cox said. The Army National Guard’s WTC graduated more than 2,000 students from various courses at Fort Benning and mobile training annexes. WTC course offerings include Ranger Training Assessment, Master Fitness, Air Assault, Pathfinder and Rappel Master, and support training for events like Best Squad, Best Soldier and NCO competitions. “WTC is the ARNG’s premier functional training and leader development organization, consisting of trained and disciplined Soldiers that are competent, motivated and professional leaders,” said Lt. Col. Gary Dettloff, WTC battalion commander. “Functional training provided by the WTC supports the federal mission of Large Scale Combat Operations and the state’s mission for domestic response to natural and man-made disasters.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Texas Army National Guard
 Fort Benning
 Warrior Training Center
 M1 Abrams
 NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen News Features • 3 hours ago
 Chaplains Address Guard Soldiers’ Spiritual, Mental Health News Features • 5 days ago
 Guard General Retires After Final Watch at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier News Features • 5 days ago
 Young Cancer Patient Made Honorary 1st Sergeant in Illinois Guard News Features • 6 days ago
 80 Years Ago, National Guard Units Played Key Role in D-Day Landings News Features • 12 days ago
 2024 (47)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil