Photo By Wilson Rivera | Sgt. Michael C. Whisenant, an automated logistics specialist, looks at Spc. Dustin E....... read more read more
FORT GORDON, Ga. - Soldiers with the 490th Tactical Installation Networking Company, 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade received their drivers licenses for the Uparmored Humvee during a drivers training course hosted at the Fort Gordon U.S. Army Reserve Center.
More than 150 soldiers assigned to the 490th TIN Company, located in Columbus Ohio, conducted their annual training at Fort Gordon completing classes and training such as drivers training for a scheduled future deployment to Afghanistan.
“We’ll be spread apart to complete the communications mission requirements,” said Pfc. Robert A. Burgett, a cable systems installer/maintainer. “We will have teams driving from base to base where a lab technician is needed to take care of the soldier, or transporting VIPs.”
The 40-hour block of classroom and equipment hands-on instruction is part of a three-phase process, which began with the commander screening each soldier. After the screening, soldiers completed an online accident avoidance safety course.
Sgt. Michael C. Whisenant, an automated logistics specialist, looks at Spc. Dustin E. Bartram, a cable installer/maintainer, as they park a Humvee at the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade during annual training in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan with the 490th Tactical Installation Networking Company. Wilson A. Rivera / Fort Gordon Public Affairs The purpose of the training is for soldiers who are preparing to deploy to be familiarized with the equipment they will be driving overseas. During the end of the training period, soldiers conducted hands-on preventive maintenance checks and services on the Humvee and the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle. Similar to convoy operations, a road test was performed with soldiers driving the vehicles to a training range.
“Soldiers learned trouble shooting measures,” said Master Sgt. Derrick D. Durham, brigade maintenance supervisor for the 359th TTSB. “Part of the first PMCS was to find the faults on equipment when dispatching it out from the motorpool. Also it’s helpful during a deployment to PMCS the vehicle before, during and after while on convoy operations.”
Burgett, who is a mechanic during his civilian employment, said driving a tactical vehicle is comparable to driving a regular vehicle, except that it takes up more of the road, and that it takes a bit of time to get used to wearing his Army combat helmet while driving.
“The training is helpful because if there is a situation when I have to drive a Humvee, I know all the safety procedures - I won’t have to think about it and I’ll be able to just do it,” he said.
The military license is a part of the soldiers military uniform. It must remain with them because they never know when they will have to drive a piece of equipment, according to Durham. The unit commander is the person responsible for the equipment the drivers training program of their unit. As a down trace unit, the brigade assisted with predeployment training for drivers to be qualified to operate any vehicle in their unit motorpool within their command.
The 359th TTSB, is headquartered at Fort Gordon, Ga., and commands more than 1,400 Soldiers in two signal battalions, five direct reporting units made up of a signal company, combat camera company, mobile public affairs detachment, and two military history detachments across seven states, which include Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2013 13:06 |
| Story ID: | 108265 |
| Location: | FORT GORDON, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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