Moving Supplies in a combat zone

Photo By Sgt. Waine Haley | Spc. Abrina M. McGuire, truck driver, Alpha Company, 626 Brigade Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 3rd Brigade Combat team, Transportation Platoon, goes over a pre-mission check list with Staff Sgt. Benjamin S. Roberts, assistant driver. A Co.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

01.05.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Spc Waine D. Haley
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq (December 30, 2005)" Here in Iraq, transportation drivers are larger-than-life heroes. Soldiers can't fight without bullets.

The Transportation Platoon of Alpha Company, 626th Brigade Support Battalion, handles transportation under hazardous conditions. In layman's terms, they take stuff from one place to another in a combat zone.

"We transport different classes of supplies from one [forward operating base] to another and back," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin S. Roberts, assistant driver, "Anything from food to ammo, anything a Soldier would need. Sometimes even Soldiers."

This is done independently most of the time, but occasionally the unit will work with other units to get what their Soldiers need.

"Our mission is important because our Soldiers need those supplies in order for them to accomplish their mission," said Roberts.

The platoon has had more than 40 successful missions. Their success is measured by the limited damage to vehicles and zero injuries.

Spc. Abrina McGruire, truck driver, contributes part of this success to their leadership's additional training and attention to detail.

According to McGruire, convoy training is continuously taught to all personnel. In addition to this training, the NCOs thoroughly inspect all equipment to ensure there are no safety issues.

To keep this procedure from becoming routine, the company has created an incentive and recognition program, said Alpha Company's First Sergeant, Chris D. Kennedy.

The unit will stage all vehicles in the "locker room" (a staging area) the night before the convoy. The NCOs and the convoy commander conduct an inspection of all vehicles and equipment. The best crew will proceed to the next level.

The day of the mission a final inspection is conducted, and the winning crew is named. Upon the validation of personal gear, the award will be presented in front of the whole unit.

The Rakkasan's symbol, the torri, is awarded to the winning crew and they are entitled to display this symbol on their vehicle.

"This incentive motivates the Soldiers to do the right thing," said Kennedy. "The bottom line is we want all soldiers to return safely."

• Date Taken: 01.05.2006
• Date Posted: 01.05.2006 12:15
• Story ID: 4284
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ