Elements of 1st Battalion, 108th Armor stepped into the virtual training world in mid-to-late January at the Calhoun armory to prepare for its upcoming rotation to the Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., in 2005.

This was the first of two rounds for the Georgia tankers in the Army’s Close Combat Tactical Trainer system (CCTT). The 108th will climb back into the system’s M1A1 Abrams tank simulators in 2004.

For three consecutive weekends, tankers with Rome’s Company A, Canton’s Company B and Company C from Dalton, tested their combat and communications skills, and their ability to work as teams. The simulated battles in which they participated were filled with tactical situations the Guardsmen may find themselves when they face the NTC’s OPFOR.

During its three weeks at NTC, the unit will test its combat readiness and the survivability of its tank crews. The last time the 108th trained at Fort Irwin was in 1996. 

Based at Fort Jackson, S.C., the CCTT system is a group of simulators that duplicate the Abrams main crew and driver compartments. Each simulator is connected to the system’s command and control station by computer.

A variety of simulations that the Army has already established for its tankers are used during the simulation, or the unit’s commander can use his own scenario to train his crews. Tankers are tested on vehicle identification, communications and navigation, gunnery and loader skills, and driver ability.