EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Tank units in Fort Bliss held a live-fire training exercise on Friday, which soldiers call their “Super Bowl.”
First Sgt. Alfredo Chavez, a 13-year veteran in the Army who is assigned to Alpha Company, 4-6 Infantry, spoke about the training, emphasizing that it requires a tank’s three-person crew to work together as a team.
First Sgt. Alfredo Chavez, a 13-year Army veteran, assigned to Alpha Company, 4-6 Infantry. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
“It’s a lot of pressure… It’s like a whole crew working together,” Chavez said. “Like if the gun malfunctions, you’ve got to fix it, and it shows that you’re training and actually put in the work for it.”
Chavez said crews rehearse in a simulator before executing the training in the field.
“It’s all rehearsed… then we do it in real life and it works perfectly fine,” Chavez said, adding that in the simulation “nothing breaks,” while in the field, the crew is forced to think on their feet and equipment malfunctions.
Fort Bliss tank units conduct live-fire training exercise Friday. March 20, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
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Chavez said he joined the military after watching his brother serve.
“My brother was in the service and I just wanted to follow his footsteps,” Chavez said. “He loved it.”
Chavez said he initially planned to serve one contract, but stayed longer. “So I was gonna do one contract and three contracts later. I’m still here,” he said.
Asked what keeps him in the Army, Chavez pointed to “the adrenaline” and “working with the younger dudes,” adding, “It’s fun.”
Chavez said his crew posted the highest score in his company so far during the qualification, “We shot the highest in our company so far.”
The result, Chavez said, was a point of pride.
“I mean, I feel like I’m Tom Brady,” Chavez said. “It was pretty cool, like that’s why I keep doing it.”
Chavez said the training left him confident in his unit’s readiness.
Fort Bliss tank units conduct live-fire training exercise Friday. March 20, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
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