The more you know

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Matthew Underwood of the 737th Forward Support Company, Ohio Army National Guard, measures the fuel level inside a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck used for refueling military equipment June 10 at a refueling point on Camp Grayling, Mich. Underwood, a Stow, Ohio-resident, is a motor transport operator retraining to become a petroleum supply specialist. More than 2,200 Ohio Soldiers are participating in annual training exercises at the Michigan post.  

UNITED STATES

06.10.2008

Courtesy Story

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

By Spc. Zachary R. Fehrman
Ohio National Guard

CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—Soldiers of the 737th Forward Support Company, Ohio Army National Guard, learned how to distribute an essential element to operations at a fuel point on Camp Grayling June 10, during three weeks of annual training.

Petroleum fuel specialists were in short supply, and as a result many Soldiers who were part of the refueling operations were trained from other military occupational specialties.

"We were short handed with our fuelers because of our Soldiers being at schools in preparation for our upcoming operations," said Staff Sgt. Victor Minzer, a petroleum specialist with the 737th. "Only six of the 21 on the detail are fuelers, the rest have been trained from other jobs."

"Instead of turning wrenches I'm pumping fuel," said Pfc. Brody Toot, a light wheel vehicle mechanic from Minerva, Ohio. "It's really just like filling your car, everybody has to use fuel."

Sgt. Matthew Underwood, a motor transport operator from Stow, Ohio, was also being trained due to the shortage.

"Fuel and driving go hand to hand," Underwood said. "It's job diversity—the more you know."

Trained petroleum fuel specialists watched over and ran the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, which houses the fuel, while the trainees ran the refueling nozzles. The training focused on safety of personnel, equipment and the environment, Minzer said.

"We had no spills, no injuries and no equipment losses," he said.

The crew ran fuel points beginning a week prior to the start of annual training and will continue through the convoy home.

"Like any job in the military, anything to help the Army do what it needs to do," Toot said.

• Date Taken: 06.10.2008
• Date Posted: 06.11.2008 15:51
• Story ID: 20352
• Location: US