Transportation Soldiers step up to challenge

Courtesy Photo | 1st Lt. John Ferrell (right), executive officer, 233d Transportation Company, 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, from Pasadena, Calif., and Staff Sgt. Carman Boyd, heavy wheeled vehicle operator, 233d Transportation Co., from Columbus, Ga., were two of the Soldiers selected to represent the 391st CSSB at the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command's "Sustainer Challenge" at Joint Base Balad.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

03.18.2009

Courtesy Story

16th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Transportation Soldiers have stepped up to compete in the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command's "Sustainer Challenge."

Ten Soldiers from the 233d Transportation Co., 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, have been consistently training for the upcoming 3rd ESC's competition at Joint Base Balad.

With a collective 200 miles-worth of road marching, a weapon system disassembly and reassembly time of less than one minute, countless rounds fired on the range and over- achieving physical fitness test scores, these Soldiers believe that they have what it takes to compete and win.

On Jan. 17, the ten Soldiers volunteered to put their soldiering skills to the test with the goal of representing the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in the competition. The train up for the competition incorporated a plethora of tasks to include combat medical tasks, combatives, humvee tire changes, weapons marksmanship, rigorous physical training, and miles of road marching.

Staff Sgt. Carman Boyd, heavy wheeled vehicle operator, 233rd Transportation Co., and Columbus, Ga., native, showed her skills during the train up.

"It feels great to get back to the basics, sometimes we all need a refresher and the chance to increase our proficiency in our basic Soldiering skills," Boyd said.

Out of the ten Soldiers who trained for the competition, only four from the company will travel to Balad to compete in the competition. Each battalion team competing in the event had to meet certain criteria. The team had to consist of one female, one Soldier at least 30 years old, one who was combat lifesaver certified, and one officer.

1st Lt. John Ferrell, executive officer, 233d Transportation Co., from Pasadena, Calif., was the officer selected for this competition.

"The team has come a long way since we first started," Ferrell said. "I remember when it took us over five minutes to disassemble and reassemble one of our weapons systems. Now we have it down to an art, with our best time just at 29 seconds."

All of the Soldiers who participated in the training were recognized by the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Ronald Pacheco, and received a certificate of achievement and a battalion coin.

Every Soldier who came out to the training put forth a tremendous effort and when asked, every one of them would say that their experience was definitely worthwhile.

• Date Taken: 03.18.2009
• Date Posted: 03.18.2009 08:47
• Story ID: 31289
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ