Armor Clad Warriors Ep-4 - MSgt Erik Benitez - Part 1

In the Marine Corps Tank community the Job of Master Gunner is the highest form of specialization as it teaches and evaluates and prepares the tank units with the highest Standard of excellence to achieve lethality on the battlefield.

Erik Benitez was 1st Tank BN Master Gunner and wingman to the Battalion Commander LtCol Jim Chartier during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

As a Husband and Father of 4 Girls and One Son, Erik was also a Football Coach and He and his wife decided to become foster parents to 4 other kids in need.
Named his Son "TANK"

Rare are the jobs in the military that offer the opportunity to stay in the Occupational field for over 20 years but Eric found his Love for Tanks.

Strong Christian man of God born in Los Angeles, 1st Generation American
Raised in a low income broken home. Joined the Marine Corps and went to Bootcamp in July 1990. March 1st 1991 Graduated Tank School, The Day Operation Desert Storm Started... Eric was in the very first class of M1A1 Tankers...

Assigned to 1st Tanks at Camp Pendleton to receive the combat units coming home from Combat. Gained valuable NCO's to further teach what lessons had been learned from Desert Storm. Erik was with 1st Tank BN camp Pendleton till 1995 then moved with 1st Tanks to 29 Palms as 3rd Tanks rolled up its Colors during a Reduction in Tanks in the Marine Corps.

Cpl Erik Benitez was the only Marine selected to reenlist from the west coast during the reduction... Now as a Sgt he was selected to Go to Ft Knox KY as an Instructor for Tank School.
1996 got selected to Master Gunner School Graduated
1998 Returned to 1st Tanks as a SSgt and a Platoon Sgt for the next 5 years.
Section leader on a MEU (USS Cole) LSD USS Anchorage.

Erik returns from MEU assigned as 1st Tanks BN Master Gunner
Responsible for the BN Lethality proficiency...
Gets Promoted to GySgt before Invasion in Iraq in 2003
Upon returning home from Combat summer of 2003 Accepts assignment to Instruct at Army ANCO Advanced NCO academy course as the Only Marine instructor.
Accepts offer to New Position with Development of weapon platforms with tanks
MSgt at PM Tanks.
Watched as the Tank Battalions in the Marine Corps are Disbanded...

MSgt Erik Benitez watched the Beginning to the end of M1A1's in the Marine Corps and is a Legendary Figure in the community... 20 years and 1 month as a 1812 and Master Gunner.

I have served with these Marines and they sponsor this episode:

K Bar Soap Company:
https://kbarsoapco.com

Veterans Solutions:
https://veteranssolutions.com

See more:
https://www.rolemodelpodcaststudios.com

©2024 B. Sean Fairburn Role Model Productions
All Combat footage shot by: CWO2 - B. Sean Fairburn USMC
To purchase combat photography of OIF-1, contact me.