140th Wing Public Affairs

Story by Spc. Jessi Stone

By Jessi Stone
140th Wing Public Affairs

DENVER, Colorado - The Soldiers, who came from units as diverse as the 101st Army Band, the 193rd Military Police Battalion and the 89th Troop Command, were learning the maintenance tasks associated with the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle.

Many of them just learned how to drive the truck a week ago, said Sgt. 1st Class Linda Welch, from the 101st Army Band. Welch is a school teacher in her civilian profession, but has recently received a license to operate the LMTV.

"There's just a hodgepodge of people here," said Sgt. Jasen Shorman, of the 193rd MP Battalion, who was the instructor for the day's course on basic recovery of a LMTV. Shorman is a power generation equipment repair specialist in the Colorado Army National Guard and also the recovery specialist for the 193rd. As a civilian, Shorman works as a surface maintenance mechanic for the National Guard at Fort Carson, where he operates National Guard equipment.

The day's training focused on basic operator level recovery, Shorman said. Soldiers learned how to connect one LMTV to another with a tow bar for towing.

Usually LMTVs are haul supplies, troops and equipment, Shorman explained. There are several variations of the vehicles to suit the varied missions of the Army.

If an LMTV breaks down and can no longer be driven, it is crucial that operators of the vehicle be able to perform preliminary recovery. "Basically this is roadside assistance for the government," Shorman said.

Sgt. Richard McMullen, of the 89th Troop Command, is temporarily assigned to the 193rd Drivers Section to serve as a primary driver should the 193rd be called to support civilian authorities. Regularly works fulltime as a multimedia illustrator and graphic designer for the National Guard, but McMullen accepted the role of transporting Soldiers.

"The mission is an important one." McMullen said. "Initially when we got word of our mission we thought 'Okay, we're driving, no big deal' but actually we're a very integral part of it. We're the ones who are getting the MPs down to where they need to be, so we have to be sharp. We have to know how to run those vehicles, how to [maintain] those vehicles [and] we have to know how to drive the vehicles most importantly because the LMTVs are very big," McMullen said.

"They're very maneuverable, but if you don't know what you're doing behind the wheel, you get into a situation where you've got Soldiers lives in your hands. You've got to be able to transport them from one place to another safely," he said.

McMullen added how confident he felt about the capabilities of fellow Soldiers in the Drivers Section. "We have a great crew and a great mission," he said.

Colorado National Guardsmen are in a constant state of training and readiness and are prepared to accept these unique missions that fall outside the scope of their traditional job descriptions. The day's training was a perfect example of the Guard's adaptability in all situations and readiness for whatever the state of Colorado or the United States may need.

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