Job Duties of a 19K, M1 Armor Crewman

The U.S. Army M1 Armor Crewman works as part of a team to operate armored equipment and fire weapons to destroy enemy positions. During combat, their role is to operate tanks and amphibious assault vehicles to engage and destroy the enemy. Tanks like the M1A2 Abrams use mobility, firepower and shock effect to close with and extinguish enemy forces.

Training and Qualifications

Job training for an M1 armor crewman requires 15 weeks of One Station Unit Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and in the field under simulated combat.

Some of the skills you’ll learn are:

• Tank operations
• Armor offensive and defensive tactics
• Map reading and scouting techniques
• Field combat strategy

ASVAB Score Required: 87 in aptitude area CO.

Security Clearance: None

Strength Requirement: very heavy

Physical Profile Requirement: 111121

Other Requirements

• Normal color vision required
• Correctable vision of 20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.
• A maximum height of 6 feet, 1 inch
• This job is closed to women

Similar Civilian Occupations

There is no civilian occupation that is directly equivalent to MOS 19K. However, the following civilian occupations make use of the skills developed through MOS 19K training and experience.

• Administrative Services Managers
• Bus Drivers, Transit, and Intercity
• Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Protective Service Workers, All Others
• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
• Protective Service Workers, All Others
• Radio Operators
• Security Guards
• Training and Development Specialists
• Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers
• Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer

Duties of this MOS

• Assists in target detection and identification
• Places turret in operation
• Determines range to target
• Prepares range and sketch cards
• Operates main gun controls and firing controls
• Adjusts fires
• Boresights, screen, and zeros main gun
• Fires main gun
• Loads, fires, clears, and applies immediate action on machine guns
• Operates tracked and wheeled vehicles over varied terrain and roadways in combat formation and armor marches
• Uses and responds to oral commands and visual signals
• Maintains orientation in moving the vehicle by comparing terrain with maps
• Selects tank routes
• Positions vehicle in firing position
• Secures battle position
• Secures, prepares, and stows ammunition aboard tank
• Loads, unloads, clears, and performs misfire procedures on the main gun
• Exercises safety precautions in ammunition handling
• Refuels vehicles
• Prepares radio equipment for operation and enters the net
• Operates internal communications equipment
• Performs operator maintenance on the turret, weapons, controls, and communications equipment
• Assists in the performance of unit maintenance of turret components
• Performs preventative maintenance checks and services on tank chassis and automotive components before, during, and after use
• Prepares DA Form 2404 and maintains vehicle equipment folder
• Assists in the performance of recovery operations
• Prepares tank for operations under various weather conditions and for night vision operations
• Assists in the construction of fortification and barriers, including minefields
• Breaches and clears minefields and obstacles
• Performs duties shown in preceding level of skill and supervises subordinate personnel in the performance of these duties
• Assists tank commander in training tank crew
• Prepares, files, and distributes operations maps, situation maps, and overlays
• Reads and interprets maps and aerial photographs
• Records information on maps and overlays
• Indicates location, strength, tactical deployment, and emplacement of friendly and enemy units
• Marks vehicle routes on maps and overlays
• Reproduces, distributes, and files operations orders and plans
• Inspects tank turret and automotive components for malfunctions
• Assists in the performance of unit maintenance of automotive components
• Assists in maintaining the gunnery proficiency of subordinate gunners and loaders
• Supervises ammunition resupply operations to include request, receipt, storage, inspection, and the issue of ammunition with armor units