The Army is having a contest for the best tank name, and I thought this name was great.
During 3rd Infantry Division's qualifying gunnery exercise, the tank commanded by Lt. Jillian Collins shot in the "Distinguished" catagory and scored 934/1000 qualifying on 10/10 engagements.
Collins said that being a Tank Commander was her dream job, and every little girl dreams of having a Barbie Dreamhouse, and that for her, "it became my Tank".
Bravo Capt. Collins and crew.


We salute the Army crew that named their tank 'Barbie Dreamhouse' - Task & Purpose

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Slava Ukraini!

Good for her!

Don’t think she plays with dolls.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

The only thing more attractive than a beautiful, smart, talented woman that carries a big gun is a beautiful, smart, talented woman that smokes cigars and has a big gun that carries her around.

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Vegan by proxy.

Either the big gun or a Viper.

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Release the Kraken

I doubt that she shot a single round. Her gunner aimed and shot that score.

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Can my S&W Mdl 10 shoot +P

No, the gunner is not the only one to shoot. The tank commander has a main gun engagements fired from the TC's override. The TC also has several machine gun engagements that are part of that score. At least one of those engagements will be simultaneous, with the gunner engaging a target with the coax while the TC engages another with the .50.The loader has his machinegun engagements as well. There will likely be at least one engagement while in chemical protective gear. The whole crew as a CREW is evaluated and that includes fire commands and crew duties.

Shooting "Distinquished" means all four crewmembers did their job. Shooting at targets a mile and a half away while traveling at 30 or 40 miles an hour requires the driver to provide a steady a platform as he can.

Thank you Sir for taking the time to shine light on the qualification process. Having only seen armor action in movies, I'd imagined it is challenging, but your description of qualification is enlightening and goes well beyond what the "big screen" shows.
I appreciate the education, and thank you for your service.




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Slava Ukraini!

Love it

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Jorge

I love it when girls have their own guns.

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No baby we aint

Holy Cow...It takes a Lieutenant to command a tank today? That used to be an E-6 position.

Platoon Leader would be an O-1 or O-2.

My Military Career came to a screeching halt when a newly minted "butter bar" decided that he was going to command my tank, relegating me to the driver position as the only crew member of the crew that he cobbled together with a driver license. He led us off a 15 ft. cliff, put me in the hospital with a broken back, and ended both of our careers. He was an ROTC officer, hadn't been to AOB yet, and they gave him a choice of court martial, along with statement of charges for my medical care and damages to the tank, or resignation of commission. I ended up medically retired, he ended up out on the street.

There is nothing in this universe more dangerous than a 2nd Lt.

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Only a cold warrior

One more quick thing to point out, that picture was taken at night. From the cigars and smiles, I'd surmise it's just after their debrief on a successful night run. The qualification table consists of two runs, one in daytime, one at night, against an array of stationary and moving targets.

Thank you for your service also, Sistema. What happened to you was wrong on so many levels. I hope that you have been able to recover from your injuries sufficiently to either be back to where you were before, or as close to it as possible so you could continue to do whatever you wanted to do post-Army in the aftermath of this tragedy.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Thinking my GI Joe would have been checking that out!

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213th FBINA

Thanks. That was almost 35 years ago. I served 4 years on active duty with not even a scratch, and that happened while serving with the TXANG during the time that I was getting started in grad school. I still have some pain each morning, some limited range of motion, and a definite loss of balance. But, I have been able to persevere and live life to the fullest.

Like they say "all gave some, some gave all". Just glad that I wasn't in the latter category. If we had a Gunner on board that day, he probably would have been killed. The idiot 2nd Lt. was standing at the TC hatch, and the E-1 Loader was standing at his hatch. They were able to withstand the impact by flexing their legs, but my backside took a couple of really hard jolts.

Funny thing was, we were climbing a rise, I backed off the speed not able to see over the front slope, and Idiot told me "Sgt. Sistema, we were ordered to maintain 12 mph". I bought the M60 back up to speed, and we then pitched over the cliff.

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Only a cold warrior

Sorry to read of your accident caused by such carelessness. It really highlights the importance of crew competence that Old Tanker wrote about.
I'm glad you've persevered. Thank you for your service.



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Slava Ukraini!

If you read the article she's a Captain now.

She was a LT. at the time of the tank qualification and naming. She was promoted to Capt. by the time the article was written.

I also was curious about her, and tried to find out some more, without much success. Found only that she still serving after graduating West Point 5 years ago, and has over 300 parachute jumps.

That would likely depend on how good a platoon sergeant she had as a brand new lieutenant. Like any officer, there are times to to get her hands dirty and times to get out of the way. As TC, she'd know to tote the fifty herself.

As a captain she'll eventually command a company. For her sake, and the sake of her soldiers, may she be blessed with a good First Sergeant. I hope she does well.

As SGT Sistema's experience shows, arrogance, carelessness and incompetence take their toll in the lives of your people. Troops deserve better. They need someone who will "take care of the horses and take care of the men" before they worry about themselves

First, from the performance of Babies Dream House crew, I am convinced that CPT Collins is both a fine officer and leader. I would be proud to have her in my company.
Second, in my experience, females that serve as Combat Arms soldiers are highly motivated, overachievers who generally help to "set the bar higher" for us other soldiers.

My son who retired as a 1st Sergeant, was Commander of the Third Relief, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, a Drill Sergeant at Ft. Benning, GA, an instructor at the Drill Sergeant Academy at Ft. Benning, GA & Iraqi war veteran, 2/6 Inf, 1AD, out of Baumholder, Germany, who was in Ramadi in 2005-2006 said he had never seen a 2nd Lt. that had brains to make a pot of coffee.

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I'm 67. I don't do timeouts.

The article doesn't say "military jumps".

Jillian Collins (U.S Army) Freedom Flyer Bio - Military Skydiver



– PUSSFOOT


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Slava Ukraini!

I can only imagine the hazing those poor dudes get for crewing "Barbie's Dreamhouse".

My old boss was one of the Golden Knights while in the Army. He had over 500 jumps before he retired. I saw the plaque on his wall in his office. 70's-80's

How about you write her note or go ask her yourself.
Convince her, not us.

The question I never hear people ask is do we really need to have soldiers carrying around 150 lb loads? Manufacturers keep making things lighter. Instead of reducing the load, it seems like the military just has people carry more stuff.

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Vegan by proxy.

Huh....try doing it drunk at night with a bull light from the back of a pick up

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Forum consigliere

Platoon leader the other three or two now days tanks have NCO commanders.

Geoff
Who may be out of date on TOE Armor.

I've done it.


Did I mention that I'm currently going through a VA claim for MULTIPLE service related musculoskeletal injuries

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Retired Career Security Guard

"Females are not capable of keeping up with males on anything like a long term day to day basis in that type of environment."

absolute baloney. My daughter, a 40ish mother of two, competes in Ironman Triathlons consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile run, all in the same day.
It's 2020, and 'females' are doing a great job across the armed services

Seems like we’re way outside the original topic of “Cool names for Army tanks . . . “

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

How 'bout them Cowboys?

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

How many Iron Man competitions has she completed while carrying TWICE her body weight?

If you read the article all four of the crew have moved on to different assignments. I'm positive that tank is no longer named Barbie Dreamhouse.

I'd be willing to bet that tank had a different name on the tube before she cleared CFI.

If you read the entire article a tank named Diplomacy Failed recieved honorable mention. THAT is a cool name for a tank.

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Retired Career Security Guard

That sure is. It tells the story write there.

This is precisely why so many women have washed out of different SOF courses. Their bodies cannot meet the physical requirements of the course and they wash out, often with broken bones from carrying too much weight. A bunch have tried, but I believe only one woman has completed any SOF course since they were allowed to attend a couple of years ago.

Bear in mind, most civilian men couldn't complete these courses, and I'm in the military and know my back couldn't bear it.

Ultimately, the risk of a commander's men dying because a female tank crew member couldn't pull them from a burning wreck is less than the risk to his career created by him preventing women from serving in positions they are not physically suited to.

I read the article. I’m just getting tired of your pejorative, misogynistic comments insulting a Captain in the United States Army by calling her Lt. Barbie. I reported that post, but I guess the moderators agree with you. And if you’re applying for disability, how are you able to work as a security guard . . . ?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Duly Noted

Use the ignore button buddy.

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Retired Career Security Guard

How about those Dodgers?

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Only a cold warrior

Jessie Graf is KILLING it on American Ninja Warrior (not while carrying 295 pounds though)

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Retired Career Security Guard

a wanna be security guard throwing heavy shade at an Army tank Captain...only in 2020, the year that just keeps on giving..lol

And regarding 'females' carrying weight...if their serving this country, they are carrying plenty of weight.

I'll give you one thing. You're no quitter . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Lackland AFB, Texas 1968 - Air Cargo.

And being a vet makes me no more or less qualified to comment on an obvious disdain, purely because of her sex, for a tank Captain that we should all respect and admire.

This thread is CLOSED, There will not be not ONE more comment about the CAPTAIN or her qualifications, abilities or lack thereof.

No more disparaging remarks, or assumptions.

I thank those of you who have kept the spirit of the original post

WE are DONE!

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP