What regular activity is vital to maintain proficiency in gunnery skills?

Conducting refresher training is essential for maintaining proficiency in gunnery skills because it allows personnel to practice and reinforce their knowledge and abilities in a controlled environment. This regular practice ensures that skills remain sharp, enabling individuals to respond effectively and efficiently in real-world scenarios. Refresher training often includes hands-on exercises, simulations, and drills that replicate the conditions and challenges that gunners may encounter in the field.

While attending annual conferences, reading recent manuals, and participating in social events may provide valuable information or benefits, they do not replace the practical experience that refresher training offers. Conferences and reading materials can provide updates on tactics, techniques, and procedures, but without the regular application of skills through training, proficiency can diminish over time. Therefore, engaging in refresher training is the most direct and vital activity to ensure that gunnery skills remain effective and up to date.