Knox heavy transporters welcomed with driver training

Photo By 2nd Lt. Sean Chang | Pvt. Kayla Stone, Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Evans and Pvt. 1st Class Kevin Nelson of the 233rd Transportation Company observe Pvt. Melanie Fisher practice winching operations on the HET in preparation for the final exam of HET driver training. The training took place in Farmer Motor Pool, June 22. Many of the Soldiers involved in the unit  

FORT KNOX, KY, UNITED STATES

06.22.2010

Story by 2nd Lt. Sean Chang 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Fourteen Soldiers from the 3d Sustainment Command’s (Expeditionary) 233rd Transportation Company conducted HET (Heavy Equipment Transport) driver training at Farmer Motor Pool, June 7-22.

Soldiers trained on various aspects of the 41,000 pound HET – 91,400 pounds with the trailer attached. The course culminated in a written test which evaluated how much students learned during the course and their readiness to become fully licensed operators.

While some of the Soldiers attending the training have been in the Army for some time, most of the students are brand-new to the military and to the HET.

Pvt. Kiara Kemp, one of the newly certified heavy wheeled vehicle operators, drove mainly light medium tactical vehicle during Advanced Individual Training.

“You would think driving is just driving, but cruising around in a HET is a completely different animal from the LMTV’s we drove during AIT,” said Kemp, a native of Anniston, Ala.

Pvt. 1st Class Kevin Nelson, another newly-minted, heavy-wheeled vehicle operator, also found transitioning to the HET challenging.

“I think the hardest thing to do on a HET is backing up, especially when the trailer is attached. It’s like the trailer has a mind of its own,” said Nelson.

The recent two-week training differed from previous classes because the number of new Soldiers attending was greater than in previous classes. While the number of new Soldiers was not a problem for Staff Sgt. Shawn Heitzman, the non-commissioned officer in charge of HET driver’s training, it did cause him to make adjustments to his class.

“I had to change the course up a little bit because of the number of Soldiers who have come straight out of AIT. With this class I decided to make it more in-depth so the new guys could learn a little more. They got through it without a hitch,” said Heitzman.

• Date Taken: 06.22.2010
• Date Posted: 06.28.2010 10:34
• Story ID: 52080
• Location: FORT KNOX, KY, US