Re: Tanks

In a message dated 2/2/00 4:03:19 PM Central Standard Time, 
books@mail.state.fl.us writes:

<< You know those in tanks, so the question I would pose is this,  you
 are in combat going at it hot and heavy.  What does the loader do?
 If he, while being ready at an instants notice, loads ammo AND
 looks around, BS's with the boss, communicates with local tanks,
 etc, then I'll give that you need a loader.
  >>

He loads the weapon, learns the family business, mounts his SAW on his
turret 
ring and acts as one more set of eyes out of the dark room, helps
maintain 
the vehicle and adds to the commanders "combat awareness", occasionally
mans 
an outpost, takes his turn at guard duty, helps maintain the vehicle,
knows 
exactly how many rounds of what he has on hand right now - watches
gauges, 
can switch radio frequency and listen in on different bandwidths, and
helps 
remind the other crew men that they have one more guy to watch their
back. 
All in all and considering that he is so much smaller, lighter and
easier to 
maintain than an auto loader would put him right up there on the list
above 
an auto loader for me