M2 Bradley Show-and-Tell Tour with JB

[@normanpotts3169]

I was in a federal prison a couple of years and worked at the UNICOR cable factory. I've actually made that curly black coms cable shown during the driver position portion. I hope those things worked well. We also made power lines, speaker splitters, etc. I always tried to make a good product for the troops.

[@bradm3a3]

We call those spaghetti cables, and yeah they worked very well, good job

[@talktojerm]

Not only did they work well, we often spliced into them so that we could play music through the headsets that everyone could hear, and they would last a hell of a long time. Thank you for doing your best to make a good product for the troopers like us!

[@mrouncervideos2905]

Good job. Your work will travel to Ukraine 🇺🇦. Thank you

[@christopherfisher7805]

Your time on "The Noughty Step" was not wasted!! Hope that you get all the breaks in life and stay safe.

[@MisterMemeDude]

117th like. The US is the most incarcerated country in the WORLD.

[@mattmerriman1894]

I was a Bradley vet and served with JB. good to see you brother.

[@bradm3a3]

Hey man, how's it going

[@mattmerriman1894]

Things are going well. Video took me back. How are things with you?

[@bradm3a3]

@@mattmerriman1894 can't complain more than I normally do, bout to retire and head back to colorado. What about u

[@mattmerriman1894]

Can’t complain. Living in Maine, been here since 2010.

[@mattmerriman1894]

Congrats

[@tgray505]

You brought back a lot of memories for me. I trained on that version of Bradley during my time at Ft Benning,(1985-89). Going from M-113's to this was a shock! But we learned to love them.

[@svenjonsson392]

I like his wry sense of humor, especially about "if you have a bad driver, these storage boxes are going to be the first thing crushed" and "the last crewmember sits up there behind the driver, he has a terrible life"

[@MozambiqueEnjoyer6097]

They're all completely true too. We called the hole behind the driver the "hell hole" because if you had to sit in it was like you died and went straight to hell. It was torturous being a dismount in the back of a Bradley.

[@spoton6906]

Alexis Beck TL/ SL had the best seat. Being able to jack in and listen to what the crew was saying helped take your mind off being in the back. Dust and diesel. Hot and cold. Being thrown around, up and down. Getting knocked out by a bad driver topped it all. I hate taking transit buses now because my brain goes Bradley.

[@tankdestroyerno.2684]

You can tell he has sense of humor while he was explaining the vehicle. This makes it interesting to watch

[@DRUMADDICT29]

@@MozambiqueEnjoyer6097 I was about to comment the same thing. It was the “Hell Hole”. Mech Inf. 1990-97

[@BLUECHET]

Truth

[@tauruszuma]

Must have said it a thousand time by now, but that's a thousand very sincere Thank You for your service.

[@saltybits9954]

I'm a Desert Storm vet and 19D3M certified Cavalry Scout with Spurs. I was a driver and gunner on a M3A2 Bradley during the war and after for 3 years while stationed at 1st ID Ft. Riley, Ks. I spent a total of 8 years active duty with about half on Bradley's and half on Scout Humvee's. Thank you for showcasing my beautiful whip! The Bradley is an amazing vehicle and has served the Army well. I am very fond of the time I spent in my Bradley. It protected me well and kept me warm and dry and was my home for a short period of my life. It really was my home. Along with my crew. We all lived in them. Played cards. Listened to music like the man said. I never caught his call sign. We spent a lot of time working on them too but you gotta take good care of them if you want them to take good care of you ya know? I was trained at Ft Knox on the A0-A2 M2/M3 and I love seeing how far the vehicle has come in upgrades. If I remember correctly the Bradley was awarded more confirmed enemy vehicle kills during Desert Storm than any other vehicle in the Army during the war. People like to compare the Soviet BMP to our Bradley but there's no comparison in my book. The Bradley is simply a better made vehicle with much higher standards & quality technology and armor. I know. I have driven both and I have destroyed a few of them. I concur with everything the man said in the video. I look forward to watching more of your videos! I have lots of pictures b.t.w. of me and my Bradley during the war. And many other tanks. Both dead and alive! Scout Out...lmao 😂

[@mtik000]

I was a fresh 11M, right out of AIT, assigned to 1/4 Cav during Desert Storm! Thank god I got to go back to 2/16 Inf after 😂

[@saltybits9954]

@@mtik000 b.t.w. I think I know who this is. ha ha 😉🤔

[@saltybits9954]

@@mtik000 You were my JAFO on A21 weren't you?

[@mtik000]

@@saltybits9954 just a scrawny E1 humping the 60 through the desert for no fucking reason... A Troop sounds familiar... but, like, it was 3 months, 32 years ago. 🥲

[@saltybits9954]

@@mtik000 Does your last name rhyme with bologna?

[@toddmetzger]

Always a bucking bronco of a good time with JB giving the nuts and bolts tour.

[@bradm3a3]

Thanks!!!

[@MARedleg]

I was on the Bradley for 8 years in the National Guard in my home state of Texas. I started out as a dismount and moved up to driver since I really hated riding in the back. I got motion sickness riding in the back so I loved my time as a driver. It was a fun 8 years going to summer camp at Fort Hood, Fort Polk, and even Camp Shelby, Mississippi. In the regular Army I was on M109s and they were a lot roomier inside than the Bradley. I’m 52 now and I really miss those years of my youth.

[@michaelfrench3396]

You should do more videos with this guy! I can see why he was volunteered to become an instructor. He's got the right amount of humor mixed in with the info to keep you paying attention. He's a fountain of information though! Thanks to him for the info!!😀👍👍

[@topher174]

He looks like he could be Dave Landau's older brother.

[@varjen018]

I concur. He sure knows his stuff and spins a good yarn too!

[@joshuar6580]

Bradley driver vet here Iraq 2006-2008 1st cavalry division. My vehicle never went down. Got hit by 5 of the 155 rounds of HME in a deep buried IED. The blast was so powerful it blew the door off the CP 2 miles away in a patrol base. All the damage was a cracked dog house and I lost conscious for 10 or so mins. No explanation but God. I even had the drain hole plug open to dump urine out and we know those are known to shoot up and take the drivers head off in a good explosion. Never felt so safe then inside one of these things. We lived there in countless hours of pulling security. Longest stretch was three days and when we got out i had 7 empty MREs. Good times great crew lots of shit talk lots of sweat as it’s hot as fuck which I always used the NBC hoses to blow a little fresh slightly cooler air. My gunner is now dead thanks to drunk driver my platoon sgt BC is still alive. I’d do anything to be with the same group of guys for one more day.

[@The_ragingJewZionist]

I know a marine with ptsd he said he saw a abrams engaging 3 t72s and in the middle of it 3 taliban came up to the side of the Abrams and hit it with rpgs and the inside was on fire and he could hear the crew screaming inside that's terrible

[@vtbmwbiker]

Wow--- had a toss up between a new Sofi video and a Mark Felton. Went with Sofi for this. Yeah, this guy's an NCO. He must've been a good one to have in the field. A good, world weary NCO with a great sense of dry humor. Priceless.

[@fw1421]

Yea,Sofi videos are usually great,and she’s fun to watch too. If I was a young trooper I’d be all over that! She’s a Babe!

[@tommyblackwell3760]

He reminded me of several NCOs I've known, total pros every one.

[@76dodge]

Justin is a great NCO I’ve known him for a long time.

[@richardsledgecock2110]

Some of them ole nco had good solid wisdom..real solid ole guys

[@johnroush237]

He is.

[@all4humanityplz]

1981-9, worked @San Jose,Cal's FMC,on parts-assembly-tested: M113s, AVP7s,MLRSs,Bradleys. Drove/swam/repaired 'em. Loved the job/pay/& esp all the gr8 friends! THNQ for your detailed video, & gr8 memories! ..🤗

[@gregmatthies8128]

This guy is great and should be the commentator describing other vehicles he is so real. PS I am australian and have many army friends but this guy is was great thanks.

[@bradm3a3]

Cheers mate! I honestly don't know if I'm using that right, don't hate me. Thanks for the compliment. I'll see what else I can find to babble on about

[@uconnjames]

Really like the way JB introduces the vehicle. Hope we can see him more often in the future.

[@joselasmarias7215]

Brings a lot of memories....I was a 63T.....Bradley System Mechanic. I used to work on them...HHC 1/32 AR “The Bandits” 2nd Brigade First Cavalry

[@rogers7884]

Thank you for your service JB !!!!

[@bradm3a3]

Np, thanks for the comment

[@HB-xb2ee]

Former 11 Mike. This video brought back so many memories of Ft Hood and my Bradley. I was a driver. I miss those days now. I would lose about 10 to 15 pounds when we would do gunnery tables in the summer waiting for hours on the ready line with my hatch closed. God bless all the 11 Mike crews and dismounts.

[@johnr9282]

I was 11 like fort Hood bravo company 2-7 cav and I concur I miss it I went from a driver to a gunner to dismount squad leader then company sniper got out 01

[@bradm3a3]

@@johnr9282 Garry Owen

[@johnr9282]

@@bradm3a3 Garry Owen Sir!!!

[@abyssiniahenry128]

Former 11M. Surprised he didn't mention the driver NBC unit. Turn it on and stuff that hose in the crotch zipper of your nomex suit. Only air movement in that hot can.

[@talktojerm]

I was 19D in 2-7 Cav at Fort Carson in the early 90's and I didn't realize that 11's could be in the CAV! I knew you guys had Bradley's, but I didn't think you were attached to the Cav, I thought you were armor div, how cool! We went from 2-7 Cav to 1/10th Cav during that time. Switched from Garry Owen to Buffalo Soldiers. So Garry Owen and Ready Forward!!

[@rwes2940]

Cav Vet here, thanks for bring back some memories. Swimming those was always a trip

[@scottbscop1251]

It’s always great when you can get an actual crewmen to give you a tour.

[@deduckster1828]

Fun Bradley washing story. We had just come out of the field, and they put the Bradley's through what is called a bird bath. It's a giant ramped pool, with about 3 feet deep water, and several giant mounted water cannons to hose the vehicles down. They also wash Abrams tanks in these, and you can put 2 at a time in. Each driver is informed to flash the head lights if there is a problem, such as the engine has died. A new driver enters the bird bath, and parks for cleaning. After a the water cannons start spraying the vehicle, the lights start flashing. That means everyone stops washing and all the water cannons stop spraying. Then the driver opens his hatch, and notifies us that his hatch is leaking, and he is getting dripped on. At that moment, I instruct both guys operating the cannons to open up the water streams on his hatch. These cannons are like they put on fire trucks, so they move a lot of water. The driver did his best to close the hatch as fast as he could before he got flooded out. When all was said and done, he sloshed out of the drivers seat like a drowned rat and learned that a few drops of water are not that big of a deal compared to the alternative.

[@johnr9282]

The inner wheel wells I'm the Bradley were the worst after they pretty much become concrete with Clay mud dried. Spent hours chiseling that shit

[@briangaffney616]

@@johnr9282 Same. Fort Knox

[@earlwyss520]

You should have told him to go ride in a Humvee during a rain storm. I was USAF Security Police, and I spent a lot of time in M-1026 & M-1044 Humvees. Every time it rained, the turret ring leaked, and if you were in the front seats, the leak went down the back of your neck.

[@spoton6906]

Earl Wyss No way, GI Joseph. Thanks for your service. Like mentioned above, try laying down in cold water, getting completely soaked, as you try to dig out the inner part of the road wheels. Unless you have done so, you just don’t know. There’s not to much to compare it to. Only did bird baths in Fort Hood. We got snow there so it was cold enough at the bird bath. As a Dismounted Team Leader, I, like my predecessors, loved it when it rained. It let all the candyasses in our unit become visible. From the stoic to the spotlight rangers, rain brought out their best. My Team and I got to laugh at folks like that. As the Battalion Master Gunner’s driver, I got to learn to move fast and get shit done. No time to lay under a Bradley, bitching and moaning. You just got laughed at and made fun of. Biggest takeaway was couldn’t drink beer and chase skirts if you were slow at the bird bath and with recovery. My BC was a wise man. Good times.

[@earlwyss520]

@@spoton6906 I did spend several hours one night at Clark AB Philippines, trying to get an XM-706E2 unstuck. The driver was cruising along the base perimeter wall, thought he found a good road, and sank into the trench where they buried the power cables for the base perimeter lights, that didn't work because some Fillipinos tried to steal the power cables while hot. Needless to say, an M-1026 Humvee nor either a 1.5 ton or M-60 wrecker could pull it out alone. It took the two wreckers working in tandem to get it out. We still tried to dig it out to prevent having to call the motor pool to report it. I can't remember how many times I went home at the end of a shift at Clark covered head to toe in red Philippine mud. Thank god we all chose the hot water instead of AC in the dorm option.

[@waitemc]

Thanks J.B what a kiss ace tour through your office. 👍👍

[@Devinci297]

We lost three soldiers last year in Ft Stewart when their Bradley fell off a bridge during training. May they Rest in Peace.

[@mancaveveteran4975]

2-7 Infantry? I was in that Scout Plt. after that Incident back in 1994.

[@Devinci297]

@@mancaveveteran4975 This happened in 2019 I think and it was 1st brigade. I don't remember which battalion though.

[@youn1700]

@@mancaveveteran4975 Pretty sure, this was the incident in 1994 where they rolled the bradley at the national training center off an waddi.

[@GaCracker69]

Similar incident happened in 1989, with 3-15 Inf. As we was leaving our motor pool, killed the BC and driver.

[@youn1700]

I mean, when you have a lot of them running, you have issues. The roll over at the National training center was multiple bradleys running along a ridgeline. National Training center for US army is north of 29 palms for the Marines. And I can guarantee marines have a ton of stories about things going wrong there.

[@diversecompanies2575]

I love JB. He is a terrific presenter. I'm prior military. 3ID, 1/7 INF, 11M MOS and was everything from dismount to driver on the Brad. Stationed in Germany. Hooah.

[@Nunyobu]

I was on M2 Bradley 0002 after its overhaul in 92 at Ft. Bliss, Texas. I used to fold out the trim vane on the front and sleep there.

[@Scout19d19d]

My M3A1 in Germany was serial number 0113. Funny the things we commit to memory. I think only remember that because i was in 11th ACR 3rd squadron...113.

[@jimcross7938]

I was on the M3 as a 19d and we would put down 2 jerry cans and lower the ramp down and sleep there. We didn't do that in Graf or Hoensfeld because of the wild boars you would wake up with. They weren't no fun at all.

[@ktiger1766]

You are lucky to have M2, back in the 1987, we 19D still have to use the old battle taxi M113s in the 3rdACR, while the 19k just have there news toy M1A1 transfer to the unit, it was the lowest point being a scout to servings for the tanker on the gunnery range being pulled guard duty! It sucks !

[@ktiger1766]

@@jimcross7938 never sleep on the tail gate on the field , there's a coyote running around & rattlesnake!

[@jimcross7938]

@@ktiger1766 In 85-86 I was stationed at Ft.Stewert with the 2/9th cav. We had tankers and scouts in each platoon. We had 113's and M60a3's. Just before I shipped to Germany the tank units on base received the first round of M1's. It wasn't till I was in Germany 86-88 we had the M3 BFV.

[@stevewetrich2001]

took me back 30 years amazing thankyou

[@TheGrainSideUp]

Great video. Many years ago, I shared a hospital bay in recovery with a young private who was swept by the turret gun on an M2. He was in bad shape, but I never really understood what happened to him even after he explained the situation. Thanks to this vet, I understand the power of that little black button on the turret handle.

[@heathmcdonald7460]

z

[@rogerminter3599]

My brother drove a Bradley in panama. This was cool, thank you.

[@user-sx1jb8gc6s]

The 4 dislikes are light infantrymen. Great video.

[@milohall5447]

,,,maybe they were just some legs.

[@user-sx1jb8gc6s]

@@milohall5447 Yeah! Probably not even free fall or dive qual'ed. 🦵

[@billywallace4666]

There is nothing light about light infantry lol

[@DBCooper82]

Crunchys

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

Those dislikes were the Bradley mechanics

[@arthurwielga970]

This was awesome!!! Its always great to hear someone who actually drove 'em rather than some engineer in a lab coat!!! The little anecdotes and tidbits of sidebar are priceless!!

[@joeyd1404]

wow this takes me back. i was on a bradley in 4-7 cav. hated it back then, but very much miss it today.

[@Odessa45]

That's how it always goes, right? The day I walked out of the motor pool for the last time, I didn't look back once. No picture taking...nothing ... nothing all day! These days though, I'd do anything for a few pics of those guys and our Sheridans...

[@ktiger1766]

4/7CAV, you are on A trp ! Gerry Owen!😂

[@ktiger1766]

You miss the fun in B,C,D trp, it's Air CAV heaven!😂

[@talktojerm]

@@Odessa45 That's because we were sick of sweeping that huge bitch all the time! I was the same way. I came across the only pic of me I had back in those days and now here I am looking up BFV vids.

[@kenmvilla]

JB was awesome, great run-down that took me back. Our unit got the M2A2 back in the day, was new for us since we rolled the old M113, but already beat up by the regular army. No firing ports, which we really couldn't imagine a scenario using them anyways. But yes I'm here to confirm - they're cramped, loud, hot, and you spend enough time around them, you know WTF a "Bradley Bite" is. She'll love you so much, she bites a lot.

[@bradm3a3]

Good times, thanks

[@billyteflon1322]

When the driver throws the piss bottle behind him and thirty minutes later you can hear commotion from the crew compartment bwcause a dismount drank it...memories.

[@spoton6906]

Or the times when a crewman gagged on the piss in his canteen. Or when all their MREs got ratfucked. Missing pogey bait. Not saying I took an MRE shit outside a certain Gunners hatch. Nor did I leave a piece of MRE toilet paper in it, standing upright like a flag, proudly blowing in the wind. No giggling off into the night from anyone, who were all, not there. 11 Dirty Mike and the Boys. Thanks for the f-shacks and good times.

[@gloriadevos1790]

I’m using my wife’s YT account since I keep a low digital footprint. I’m thankful you and the people involved with this video made a great video. I started my Army career in 1983 as an 11H (Heavy Anti-Armor Weapons Infantryman) which is one of the 4 various Infantry MOS’s we had back then. The NCO in this video was clearly an 11M then later he was folded into 11B as I was. The Army is not planning on spreading Infantryman into specific skill fields and are bringing back 11H and 11M to deal with future threats of mass hordes of enemy tanks. The TOW missile is insanely effective and accurate, each one weighs about 63 pounds and yes, they suck up internal space BIG TIME!. During the Gulf War we removed all hatches and doors on our HMMWV’s to squeeze more missiles and gear inside. The other factor about no doors or hatches was to reduce the effect of a landline blast, you want the explosive gases to be able to vent quickly so it drastically reduces the damage to the occupants but it’ll still ring your bell and mess you up by a lot less chance of becoming a pile of hamburger, lol. I deployed with 1st AD to Iraq in 2003-04 for a fun-filled 16 month tour. We had the older M2ODS Brads but they worked fine. Installing new track in an Iraqi summer was not something my platoon looked forward to but I always had a case of beer hidden for them for a once a month roof party to say thanks, not having a beer for 16 months is inhumane in my opinion and the men really appreciated the effort. When we went through Fallujah one of my buddies Brads was hit 3 times by close range RPG rounds but the idiot gunners always forgot to pull out the fumes safety tab so they just bounced off and he killed the gunners with his M4 carbine he kept on the roof of the turret. Yes, we had one that was hit with a VBIED, we guessed it was about 500lbs and it killed the TC since he was the only one at mid hatch level. And being inside a Brad as a passenger isn’t too fun, especially when it’s on a dusty road, lol. Because no matter what your race is, when you got out, everyone was covered in moon dust and had the same color, lol. For shits and giggles some Grunts would pull the outside fire extinguisher lever for fun but that quickly stopped in the mid 80’s. The early M2/M3’s would fly at around 55 MPH as did the M1 Abrams, they could easily do 60 MPH until they adjusted the governors in 1986. Finding an unmodified Bradley like the one in this video is rare and special, not sure how that happened since I’ve never seen one since the 80’s. I retired in 2009 after serving 26 years as an Infantryman and I still keep in touch with many of the young Soldiers I served with, us, I was their boss but I’m not a “power bitch”. The M3 Cavalry version was designed to carry more munitions and had less space for passengers, they also had a larger Bushmaster cannon. The doctrine in the 80’s was that the Scout units would search for enemy units, hit the enemy hard and give them a bloody nose so to speak and cause the enemy to deploy their tank formations which slowed the enemy greatly. Once located we’d call in everything available, including B-52’s to hammer them before they hit our defensive line. Soviet and Chinese tanks are very easy to kill despite what anyone says and we have various types of TOW missiles (7 variants in total) we can choose from to deal with various threats. JB is a good NCO and deserves a promotion since we’re going to need good NCO’s in the near future to rebuild and retrain our Infantry ranks. It’s been said that we always train in the present from lessons learned in the previous war(s) so the new battle doctrine will be a big adjustment. Thanks Panzerfrau. SFC Devos, Kevin M.

[@Utahpatriot72]

Wow, I want to thank you for providing an insight on this vehicle. My son is currently about a year into his career and is a driver. You have given me an idea of what he has to deal with. Thanks again. Thank you all for your Service.

[@bradm3a3]

NP, any questions just hit me up

[@Redwhiteblue-gr5em]

Best tour and explanation of the interior of an AFV I have ever seen! And thank you for your service

[@Jetdrag]

Very interesting video. JB was really engaging, I ended up wanting to just take a peek, but sat through the whole thing!

[@jonathandavis6072]

That was awesome to have JB give us all the insight that only a vet would have. Thanks for serving JB and thanks for Sofilein for putting in the time and effort to bring us great footage of all these wonderful vehicles.

[@bradm3a3]

NP, anytime

[@Love_rainy_days]

This video is very interesting to me. My son did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan in the US Army infantry in the 1ID and the 1AD in Bradleys. Thanks to all the vets who served in the Bradleys. I been told by vets the enemy feared the Bradley over M1Abrams . Have a Merry Christmas

[@BFVgnr]

Because when the Bradley stopped, the infantry came out.

[@Bosniarat24]

@@BFVgnr And they were there, while the M1a2s were no where near the troops.

[@ktiger1766]

25mm eat more enemy than M1A1 main guns

[@elektronischemusik1903]

Heard the same from german afghanistan veteran, as soon as marder was on the table the taliban stopped any form of combat. It seems that consistent autocannone fire is the worst thing for soft targets.

[@ktiger1766]

@@elektronischemusik1903 20mm HE round powerful kill the enemy behind mud wall !🔥

[@ottohonkala6861]

Serious experience talking there. You just know this guy knows everything there is to know about this vehicle. KUDOS.

[@ottohonkala6861]

And as an old soldier - no matter how uncomfortable he tries to make it sound.....I'll take a ride over walking any day!

[@marcusaurelius9631]

I was a former 19D Cavalry Scout with the 3rd Armored Cavalry many moons ago. Served my first two years in service in CrazyHorse Troop of Tiger Squadron driving one of the later improved models of these. I remember it was so stinking hot in the drivers compartment right next to the engine in 120°+ heat in the desert and I'd be driving around in nothing more than my underwear, my CVC helmet and my boots and chugging water. I used to hoard the MRE boxes behind my seat to make a bed to sleep on. Knock the drivers seat back down and it made a pretty good bed. 😂 Great memories. We used to get these going so fast and then literally drifting them as we took corners left and right. SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane and for making this video. I salute the you and the gentleman who gave the tour. Listening to him brought it all back for me.

[@alwayschasingplanes6253]

I MISS driving the Bradley! Camp Ripley, MN. Canada /US Army exchange. Awesome video!

[@gerardpreston-nr2hp]

Sofilein is so, so easy on the eyes. Just love watching her shows.

[@jimplaysbadly3881]

I was dismounted and support for my first four years and a turret goblin for my next four years, and I trained on M2s like this one and M2A1s. Fort Hood had the newest Brads and Germany had the oldest. We took ours across the Sava River on floating bridges on Christmas Day '95, and spent nearly all of '96 in northern Bosnia around them. Being a dismount wore me out, but being a gunner was big fun. We worked with tankers a lot, who were usually pretty cool-- especially if they helped you dry your gear out.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

How much interaction did you have with service members of other KFOR/SFOR countries and, if any,what was your impression of their vehicles and kit?

[@jimplaysbadly3881]

@@SonsOfLorgar Some, O Bearer of the Word, though I was IFOR. Mostly, we ran into NORBAT (friendly, shorts in the summer, MOWAG Piranhas), the Russians(UN-marked BMPs, MTLBs, loved to barbecue, awful smokes), and Brits(two flavors: DPM/battle bowlers/L85s/distant, and desert DPM/wrinkles, deep tans, long hair/old, beat up, spray-painted gear/friendly). Other nationalities would come and go-- this Nigerian, that Czech, the odd Frenchman, all with little flag patches and UN hats. Out of everyone there, we-- and the locals-- seemed to take the situation the most seriously. the FWF guys all looked beat, filthy, hungry, and sad. Things calmed down pretty early, and were looking a bit better by the time we redeployed back to Kirchgoens.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@jimplaysbadly3881 interesting to hear, because my previous home guard militia company was sprinkled thick with Bosnia/Kosovo veterans among the platoon and squad leaders, especially my own platoon. A lot of them told stories in the tents during field exercises.

[@thejoker9201]

I served as a driver and a dismount. And much preferred being dismount any day

[@abyssiniahenry128]

11M's always fought with those soft tankers and their lazy boy seats but you sure could dry out a wet mummy bag in no time with that Abrams exhaust. And heat up an MRE pouch too.

[@dustyroads834]

Best commentary I have ever seen. Straight forward and no BS. Thank you.

[@bradm3a3]

Thanks, that's how I roll

[@GTLandser]

That's (one of) the great thing about experienced NCO's: he was able to spit all of that knowledge in a fairly non-technical way, and he paid extra attention to safety and "ease of use" factors, which is exactly what soldiers need to hear. I bet he has been instructing for a long time, and has had several opportunities to use that "640 turns of the hand wheel for a 360 traverse" bit of trivia when it was needed "for instructional purposes"! Now if you really want to be blown away, go up the block to the Master Gunner school, and watch them set up and take apart that M242! Not sure any of that would be open though. But the tech nerds would swoon.

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

sadly, in my experience an nco like him is very hard to come by

[@tommyblackwell3760]

@@Mr.Thermistor7228 Sad to hear that, in my day most were like him.

[@nickferzacca1786]

As a Mike Gulf I approve of your comment

[@spoton6906]

Nick Ferzacca Respect. Got to drive our Mike Golf around. Learned a lot from him which helped me later.

[@Billygoat_27]

KZbin’s algorithm actually sent me something I’m interested in thank you for blessing me with knowledge

[@georgegrierson]

Thank you Sofilein! I've viewed a considerable number of MBT reviews, etc... but never an M2 Bradley. Learning something new every day!

[@marcosspagnol7488]

Definitely, this video is special. Thanks, JB for share your knowledge and humour and Sofi for spending time filming and editing.

[@MililaniJag]

Great info! JB thanks for your service!!! LOVE the LONGER vid!!! Thx!!

[@rtfm2986]

I served on Strykers as a medic (on MEVs, RVs, and ICVs) and now on the M1A2 as a tanker. The Bradley looks like a super funky fusion of the two, really cool to see the commonality in controls and layout.

[@egbertdefatt262]

I was in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment back in the early 80's. I think it was 83 when we were sent to Germany for REFORGER. We were issued M-60's and M-113's. It was during this exercise that we first came up against the M-1 Abrams (with the 105 main gun) and the Bradleys. Thought the damn things were starships by comparison. There's nothing more fun than going all out across an open field in an armored vehicle!

[@MikeSherrin]

I was with the 3rd ACR at Ft Lewis, WA. We didn't have Brads just m114's that I wouldn't what to go into battle with. We also had M60a1. Was supposed to go to Germany in 1970 to check out the equipment but it got cancelled because I think the equipment was trash. The unit was scheduled for REFORGER but was also cancelled.

[@robochef63]

Right on .. an old friend who I grew up with was a helicopter crew chief in reforger.. we have lost touch over the years since then. I have often wondered where he went from there. We had planned to go career army together but I had to move and we signed up at different times. I was rejected because of my vision. Pat took it all the way. I hope he is doing well wherever his career took him. After reforger he totally disappeared I went to his old home, which was a farm and the people that lived there had no idea what had happened to the family that lived there before they did.. which was kinda creepy cuz his mom owned the place. She had been my cub scout den mother and he had two other siblings.. this wasn't as if it was that many years since I had last seen him either... Anyways his name is John Pierce Lehmbeck, also known as Pat. Good guy and one of my closest friends right up until we lost touch due to both of us moving all over the damn place and life careers etc. Thanks for putting the work in and doing what you do and did.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

"Amphibious." Riiiiiiight. I was the M113A3 driver for my battalion commander in 4th Battalion 68th Armored, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Carson while I waited for my 19K assignment in West Germany. I wouldn't have tried to "swim" my M113A3 let alone one of those.

[@motorrebell]

Ex 1A3 Marder driver here , Seems we had much more space for Ammo & Beer , Salute from Germany . :-D

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Well, didn't you have a gun pod instead of a turret, and no vehicle mounted ATGMs as those were assigned to the dismounts of tank destroyer formations?

[@motorrebell]

@@SonsOfLorgar Yes it has a similar kind of "turret" , Commander sitting beside & Gunner sitting under the weapon ( version 1A3 ) Armed with a 20 mm cannon - a MG3 Machinegun & "Milan" antitank missile system . 6 Panzergrenadiers .

[@SgtBones]

@@motorrebell Nope, your Marder is much smaller inside, I was shocked when I had a chance to get in one during tag der offene tür in Weratal Kaserne (mein sohn ist beim Bundeswehr) and seriously, a Bradley is really much higher in the back and wider, I am 1,86m tall, but the Bradley never felt cramped inside (M3 version, 84 to 90)

[@motorrebell]

@@SgtBones Well maybe i was wrong but there is more space behind the drivers seat , I was never inside a Bradley - the Marder is an older system , the first version also had a small Gunpod over the back latch wich was discontinued in the 70s , My father was in the US Army and i (Armybrat ) was drafted into the Bundeswehr in the late 80s . I was a Marder and Leopard driver - and then a Fallschirmjäger ( Airborne) Wiesel ( 20mm mk & TOW ) operator .

[@SgtBones]

@@motorrebell A good friend of mine was also Fallschirmjäger, he loved those Wiesel! (ich finde es komisch das du ein Army brat waren mit Ami Vater, weil in meinem familie bin ich der Ami Vater der beim Army war, und mein sohn der (freiwillig) beim Bundeswehr ist....und er möchte eventuell ein Falli auch werden! ;) )

[@jSlazer1988]

Ft. Hood Vet here. During field training, my dismounts left am assault bag in the back of the ramp that had a smoke grenade in it. They gave me the OK to raise the ramp and ended up crushing the grenade which caused it to go off. Caused a small fire but no one was hurt. Also, there's a way to turn the driver seat into a recliner with the driver's seat belt. Just fasten it while looping the belt behind the seat. I spent many nights sleeping like that.

[@bradm3a3]

That's the best way

[@talktojerm]

My BC and Gunner piled all their stuff there, so no seatbelt needed! But they would get a little mad if I crushed their "Pogee bait".

[@edwo6648]

When you see the door in the ramp open, while driving in column, its a sure bet you'll also see a stream of piss exiting the vehicle.

[@bobbobbobbob1449]

Lol yep

[@abyssiniahenry128]

Hull drain plugs... a.k.a. urinals.

[@butterbean4195]

awesome! i was a BFV guy for years in the guard even was a instructor for several years. great stuff 11m30 retired

[@kurtbaker9908]

"MY FIRST TOUR OF A "BRADLEY" AND ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. I HAVE CROSSED SABERS TOO. BASIC @ FT. BENNING, 8/1 @ FT. KNOX & 7/1 IN VN. WE'RE IN THE CAV. ON HORSE, IN TANKS OR IN THE AIR. YES SIR, THIS CAV IS ALRIGHT!!"

[@mancaveveteran4975]

Drove one during Operation Desert Storm. We were Cavalry but when we got new vehicles before the ground war they ran out of the CFV’s and I got a brand new Infantry version. We had to modify the back to hold our combat load. Lots of crew seats got lost at night during movements.... That drivers compartment brought back some memories. All not good.

[@denegillespie5767]

Loved it and JB's down to earth insight on this vehicle. Would love to see more of this kind of thing

[@paulb6293]

I was an Bradley instructor at Benning in 1990 - fun times swimming that vehicle.

[@Jmitchking]

Went through 11m school in Dec of 90. You were probably one of my instructors.

[@elimtevir1]

And one of Mine too, (Sorry about the batteries on my turn...)

[@khanricksteele]

Thank you JB for your service and the tour! Now I want a Bradley. I like that bit about making your own parking spot.

[@chrisclark5204]

One thing he didn't mention about the commander's hand station, when commander squeezes that grip it overrides the gunners hand station. This is incase the commander sees a target that is more of an immediate threat that the gunner doesn't see, he can override the gunner and engage the target.

[@tommyblackwell3760]

I kept a tent peg for a GP medium next to me as a gunner's override for when the BC squeezed his grip, I'd whack him with it! lol

[@Gergoth117]

@@tommyblackwell3760 lmao, that's hilarious

[@sethcoon9829]

There is a 14mm or screwdriver & possibly a (BC flutter kick)...for turret spats. - so I have ben told.

[@aprilgeneric8027]

or stop them from making a critical mistake. such as the drivers ed passenger side brake pedal.

[@richardsledgecock2110]

So cool I was in Aberdeen proving grounds when the first of the Bradley fighting vehicles came into service.so cool I was 18 years old back then lol.we were so proud of those machines the xm1 and the Bradley. I was a 63 hotel I was the last cycle befor training began on these two newest war machines.but I learned them later...so cool...

[@WickedScott]

I drove one of these in 1st Cav out of Ft. Hood. Mine was the BFist for a tanker company. I had a layout flashback watching this! That and 18 hours in the driver's hole in 130 degree heat! My initial training consisted of "Get in there and drive it to the motor pool!"

[@jasonfrancis8465]

My driver hatch/ hell hole was set up like my barracks room! That sh*t was plush! I remember times that I would stick one foot out of my sleeping bag to drive and still be warm over in Germany in the middle of winter! Good times! Really miss my Bradley!

[@spoton6906]

My friend drove a Bradley in Desert Storm. At one point, he stopped wearing his uniform and only wore a pair of fluorescent orange shorts. Seen pictures of him in his then-dirty shorts and CVC. Think he was the CO’s driver. Yeah, sleeping bag driving. Did the same. Best seat in the house until it was bird bath time. Road wheels suck.

[@doughudgens9275]

One of first M-1/Bradley training session at Ft Irvin in 85, they had to road March several dozen miles from the railhead to post. They did it a night, driving on the shoulder, and probably slowly. A Bradley driver dozed off and ran into a bridge pillar over I-5. I saw the track, and it barely scratched the paint. But the interstate was closed until engineers could inspect the damage! Tough vehicle.

[@bidenhasdementia8657]

26:15 Nothing better than a good ole lashing strap. A dude can never have too many. Like guns

[@uptone12111]

If this was once your mode of transportation.Thank you for your service !

[@Fenncer24]

Rode and drove two different versions While stationed in West Germany 1st ID 1st. BT 16th IF. 1988-1991 we got brand new M2A2 series Bradley's in May 1989.. Upgraded armor and engine, Nice ride. Got back state side 5th ID and these were 1981 or 1982 models and worn out. Worn torque converters tracks just old. But fjn and interesting times 30 years ago at this time. Yikes were did time go.

[@elfhighmage8240]

11-Mike! 2/7 Inf, 24th Division here. Desert Storm. I can still remember details about this vehicle even after 30 years! I was a driver for the M2. Lots of elbow room. Had my own personal MRE box under my seat, my own supply of food and water in the hellhole. With the hatch closed, nobody of higher rank than I could see me with my BDU top and boots off in training. Good times.

[@abyssiniahenry128]

11M driver C Co. 1/18 3/24 Ft. Benning 1993 HUAH!

[@joehughes5177]

88-90 alumni c Co and a Co 2/7

[@wipatriot510]

A "Bradley Veteran"...well then, I was an 11M10Y1(Bradley gunner) back in 1983, was in Alpha Co. 2nd BN, 41st Infantry, 1st Tiger BDE, 2AD, Ft Hood, TX, 6/83-1-85...We were the second line BN to receive the M2 BIFV and the M3 CIFV in the entire Army, our sister unit the 1st BN, 41st Infantry, 1st Tiger BDE, 2AD, Ft.Hood, TX was the first...We participated in ReForGer '84, and were the first Infantry BN to draw brand new M2 and M3's from POMCUS in Germany...

[@robertsettle2590]

I was in Delta Co. inthe exact same unit at Ft Hood. My track #0032 had been through a lot of Bradley Testing by the time I got there in 1987. Yeah 2/41- too much shit for one man to handle!

[@renemiller7082]

I was at Fort Knox in 80 when Abrams and Bradley were just coming out. Michigan Guard had M-48s and M- 60s with 113s. Was like going from hang gliders to jets. Amazed at the ability to shoot on the move, speed, and how much quieter the M-1 was then the 48. Liked the 113 for room and the fact it did float. Watched M2 sink. Everyone got out but what a mess getting pulled out and cleaned up.

[@sedav4500]

Nice to see the original version of the M2 again....My battalion at Ft Hood was the first and only one with them for a while until more were produced to equip our sister battalion and other batts in Germany....every time we went to the field the civilian contractors and techs from FMC were always out there checking on things and asking us about how it was performing....back in garrison there were a lot of VIP visits by the brass and foreign exchange officers to check them out and many demonstrations were done on the ranges to show its capabilities....some platoons had to do photo and video shoots with media and public affairs as well.

[@spoton6906]

We had two general officers get into a fist fight in the back of one of our tracks. Was like two third world dictators in a Wrestlemania. Sooo funny. Our unit got fancy cots for doing SINGARS testing. Later, we fought over those as they broke and/or disappeared when guys got out.

[@robertsettle2590]

So what battalion were you in at Hood. I was in 2/41 Inf. 2AD 87-91

[@sedav4500]

@@robertsettle2590 1-41 2AD 1983

[@stephenpidwell3427]

Great video Sophie,JB is a cool guy, thanks for your service.

[@bradm3a3]

Thank you Stephen

[@ssgadamjunemann]

I was Bradley mechanic pain in butt to work on but still loved it. The sight on gunner side is ISU(Intregraded Sight Unit).

[@transcendentalidiot3321]

Yeah Adam, you are correct. He said it was the IBAS (Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem) but those are the features (Target Acquisition, Night Vision, Missile Control, ect.) that tie into the ISU.

[@Saint-eg7yg]

Having a flash back!!!! I was in Alpha Troop, 2/1 CAV, 2AD from 1984 to ‘87 at Ft. Hood. I was in the M3 Bradley and you’re right. It was hot, dirty, and really loud inside. But when we were in the field, it was home. We called it our Army RV! I was 19, I was a driver, and it was all a big adventure. Thanks for the trip down the memory tank trail.

[@ster6222]

HUA! Awesome vid, ty. 🤙🏻 Edit: Army 13F Vet here and love vids with presentations from Army Vets that know wtf was going on with the vehicles, gear, situations, etc. Adding some jargon too and anecdotes give the vids a true sense of reality. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MrJoeGarner]

Very informative video, I was an Artillery Mechanic in the Army for a decade but never got many opportunities to see inside other vehicles. M109, M110, M992 and the now extinct M548 vehicles I know like the back of my hand. Thanks Sofilein!

[@frankwalder3608]

He confirmed what I thought all along, driving would be the most fun!

[@Jmitchking]

If you did not like the gunner and BC much, the low and spacious drivers position was way less violent that the turret.

[@spoton6906]

Mitch King I was detached to our Echo Company. Supposed to be short time gig but things were changing. They got a new CO who was recently my old CO. He wanted to make me his driver after my recently being the Battalion Master Gunner’s driver for several months. I wanted back to being a Dismount so I bottomed out my hull the first chance I got to drive the Captain. We were going full clip when I did it. He almost broke his arm. Was back in my old company later that day. :) As for fun, I got to do some Duke Boys shit with our track. Broke an M16A2 from the impact of one of our jumps. Could feel the impact hit my body. Same jump almost killed a new corporal who just came to us from the airborne. Told him not to touch any straps in the back. He’s lucky we didn’t uncover his corpse after all the shit we had hooked up to them straps came out and all over the place. We had the kitchen sink with us in the back, heading out to gunnery, and he caught a ride with us. LOL Might have driven for a total of 6 months but we did a lot in a short period. Was the most fun I have had driving. Before and since.

[@murchman0]

Thanks for doing this as a former 63T Bradley Mechanic with the 24th and 3rd ID at Kelly Hill this brought back a lot of great memories. During AIT at Knox we were taught on those early Brads only to get to our units and have the newer A2's. Hell is changing out the batteries on the vehicle since the batteries are in the hell hole under floor. Driving was fun but you could always tell a new driver as they would stall trying to turn.

[@abyssiniahenry128]

Former 11M driver C Co. 1/18 3/24 Kelly Hill. I grounded out the other end of a wrench(I believe) loosening the grounding cable to remove those batteries from my floorboards. Rode the lightning. Arcs and sparks. Stiffened up straight as a plank, swore it stopped my heart, sore the next day. Still unclear of what exactly went wrong. Buddies found it absolutely hilarious though.

[@ccapehart1980]

Im also a Veteran M2A3 Bradley Crewmember Was a Driver Gunner and eventually vehicle commander while i was deployed with 1-8 cav OIF 06-08 he is on one of the old Aluminum and magnesium hulls with out the reinforced steel armor plating on the front and sides

[@talktojerm]

@Charles Yuditsky The M1A2 had the "rounded" looking armor. The M1A3 had the armor that looked like plates bolted to the side.

[@timothyhosek3551]

Thank you sooo much j.b. you're awesome.

[@bw1895]

As a very old, but still serving BFV commander, if your driver is pissed at you he always did his best to smash the BCs ribs into the hatch opening. It never turned out good for the driver, but his mission was accomplished

[@kcoop9999]

SOP for an armored vehicle. Piss off the driver,he just waits till the TC is distracted and slams the brakes ! Attitudes corrected.

[@stevegyles3190]

Speaking as a very old driver who is no longer serving I feel free to confirm this anecdote. Folded a BC in half one time when he ordered me to quote "haul ass" into a creek bed. I'll let your imagination fill in the rest of what happened when the glacis hit the far bank.

[@williamt.sherman9841]

to which the Driver gets a good kick to the head from the TC

[@stevegyles3190]

@@williamt.sherman9841 You could only do that in the 113's. In the Bradley the driver was in his own little world. But yes I've been kicked in the head by a TC.

[@Fenncer24]

@@stevegyles3190 so have I or hit in the head by the .50 cal. My TC did that to me more than once. West Germany 1988-1991. Good times.

[@Hugh-Glass]

Very cool. Thanks to those involved.

[@eio1971]

ISU- Integrated site unit. Tow missile system repairer vet here spent 8.5 of my ten years in Bradley turret troubleshooting and fixing the TOW

[@pgocon]

And then traverse drive assembly, (TDA) did not elevate the gun, that was the Gun Elevation Drives (GED) function.

[@SolidMikeP]

A great contractor I work with lost his son inside of one of these, he keeps a model of it on his desk with toy soldiers around it. Sometimes I catch him just staring at it, with a stoic sad look on his face. We do what we can to comfort him...but I could not imagine his pain, his loss.

[@Soulessdeeds]

I was a Bradley mechanic for 15 yrs. The Bradley was is a good vehicle but does need to be replaced. The one in this video is definitely a much older version of the vehicle than the ones I worked on. But the vehicle that I loved the most driving and operating was the M88a1. Just a beast of a machine.

[@bholdwick]

16 years Brad mech, almost always on the 88a1 or a2. Yes, we love our Cadillacs. Where did you serve?

[@Fenncer24]

I was in from 1988-1992 and drove old worn out M-113, and a brand new straight out of the factory M2A2 Bradley while serving in the 1st Infantry Division 1st Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment Bravo Company Panzer Kaseren, West Germany 1988-1991. Then drove this version shown with the 5th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Division Delta Company Fort Polk, Louisiana 1991-1992. The one I drove was a 1982 model and worn torque converter made for fun while trying to park in the motor pool lining up as you would push the accelerator and nothing would happen for 5 seconds and then boom your jumping forward a foot or two and backwards and so on for 5 minutes trying to park. While in the 5ID we had a a driver somehow brake the rear ramp of his Bradley completely off. I was behind him while we drove back to camp and could see 2 dismounts in the back staring at me even though it was 2300 hrs +. Messed up as it was the Captians Bradley. Don't know how they recovered the ramp or how it was fixed. Just funny. While in Germany doing the fording my Bradley nearly sank as it was drifting towards some submerged trees. The instructor was yelling at me and a dismount tapped me and said turn left. Showed him as the yoke was against me left knee. Had to have the M-88 that's is hooked up pull us a shore. But fun times as a driver and dismount. Would sit in the seat behind the driver on the older model and the seat further behind the driver on the A2 model. Wow how time flies. 30 years ago this year I'm stationed at 5ID. Damn

[@schlirf]

Former Bradley Gunner with the 11th ACR. In my humble opinion that machine is a widow maker for any place other than the desert. Give my a good 360 degree free view with my binos or Mk 1 eyeballs; you know Delta style.

[@tobysirus4996]

Enlisted 63T10 in 1983.In my 6 years of Army enlistment never touched one. Did a lot of other stuff you all wouldnt believe so I aint even gonna go there. Thanks for showing me the vehicle I never knew.

[@wunderschatze]

Greetings to the veterans and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences.

[@meauxmazey8365]

Thanks for the tour of my childhood.

[@terifarley4770]

Bradley became famous in 91 after DS. I thought it was goofy when first in the news but soon appreciated its use and coolness

[@hondasaurusrex6998]

Brings back memories... Great stuff young lady!

[@hiphopman72]

Solid guy for the review! He made it that video

[@miken.4693]

“One sits behind the drive, he has a terrible life” that’s funny

[@jamestheotherone742]

Not for the dismount that has to sit there.

[@firstnamelastname9615]

It’s almost been 20 years for me and I can still remember what the inside smells like.

[@nlomas]

Farts?

[@charleslennon1]

@@nlomas well, they're better than Tanker farts!

[@lorenzomedina6220]

Break free and freedom !

[@abyssiniahenry128]

Ditto, but 27 years for me

[@patches6309]

As a 19 Delta SGT fighting in Ramadi 2005-06, we loved having "Brads' support us in our M114 up armored Humvees while patrolling. Once I stood next to an M3 CFV while firing my M4 at bad Haji's firing from a building when suddenly I heard the distinctive sound of that Hammerhead raising. The Bradley fired 2 TOW missiles into the building( 1 on each floor) and silenced the fire coming from it quickly. After the firefight, I ordered a few of my men to search the destroyed building for "BDA", & they exited the rubble shaking their heads saying there was no way they could tell how many enemy were killed due to the fact the bodies were utterly shredded? I told em, go back & count the feet! The lads got a real kick out of that, but it actually did work.

[@bradm3a3]

Gunner, missle, building

[@abyssiniahenry128]

Count the feet. Got a real "kick" out of it....no pun intended? HUAH

[@robcanisto8635]

Those "hajis" were defending their country lol. I think you were the baddies. no hate, just saying 😂

[@sethcoon9829]

CAV Justin has done the best walk/talk through of a Brad ever! (That's coming from an 2000-2013 11BJ3). The gunner sight mechanics on like an ODS were spot on. Big thanks to Justin for explaining in the real real (or whatever the cool kids call it these days).

[@bradm3a3]

I don't know what the youngins call it these days either, but you are welcome, and thanks for the kind words

[@chrisschultz8331]

I hated riding in the back of this bullet magnet. But wow the instant memories and smells it brings back lol.

[@Neutercane]

I remember being a young Private back in 1991, when we were issued the (then) brand new M2A2 Bradley and I was so excited because I'd originally been assigned to the M901 ITV's, and that vehicle wasn't exactly confidence inspiring. I was a Bradley driver for a short period of time and no matter how hot it got in there, the guys in the turret always seemed to be freezing and were constantly demanding more heat. As he stated, the hellhole was usually full of all sorts of gear which was both bad and good. Bad because it made it all that much more cramped, but good because if you had that seat behind the driver, all of that gear (fully loaded duffel bags were best) directly behind the seat made a pretty decent mattress, plus, there was a heater vent right by your left foot. You simply slipped your upper body behind the backrest onto the pile of gear, properly position that left foot and presto! A nearly perfect snooze. One thing that wasn't so good was the vibration caused by the tracks hitting the ground. At low speeds, it wasn't anything to worry about, but at certain higher speeds ( I can't remember the exact speed), the effect was a high frequency hammering on your kidneys.