Embarkers weigh in training

Photo By Sgt. Michael Iams | Sgt. Carlos S. Pereyra, regimental embarkation chief, shows Marines where to properly place the center of balance mark on a vehicle during embarkation training on Camp Kinser, Oct. 14. Pereyra is assigned to Combat Logistic Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

10.14.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Michael Iams 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA -- More than a dozen embarkation specialists and embarker representatives from various units within 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducted center of balance training for loading ships and aircraft, on Camp Kinser, Oct. 14.

“The center of balance training teaches the Marines to find the balance point of a vehicle for when they are loading on either a plane or ship,” said Sgt. Carlos S. Pereyra, the regimental embarkation chief for Combat Logistic Regiment 35, 3rd MLG.

The balance point is the point at which the weight of the item to be embarked is equally distributed.

“The Marines have to measure the length of the vehicle from the front bumper to each axle, the full length of the vehicle and the weight of each axle,” said Pereyra.

The Marines were also taught proper safety techniques for handling different types of vehicles.

“I learned as a ground guide you must be at least 15 to 20 feet away from the vehicle at all times,” said Lance Cpl. Sean P. Duffy, an embarkation specialist with CLR-35.

Embarkation is essential to exercises, disaster relief and other operations to ensure equipment is properly moved from one point to another in a timely manner, said 2nd Lt. Dan Ludmir, the S-4 assistant logistics and embarkation officer with CLR-35.

“Marines need to know this type of training at all times because as Marines, we need to be know what we are doing and do it in a blink of an eye,” said Pereyra. “Operation Tomodachi is a good example of how Marines needed to be able to move equipment in an instant.”

If equipment is not properly placed and properly spaced apart within a ship or plane, it could ruin the vessel, said Ludmir.

“Learning things like this is important for when we are loading them, so it doesn’t crash or break the ship or plane or do damage to the equipment,” said Duffy.

In pairs, the Marines worked to calculate the weight and length of a vehicle and find its center of balance.

After finding the weight and length, the Marines marked the vehicles to let the representative receiving them know the weight of each axle and where the center of balance is located.

“Even though some of the Marines are embarkation representatives and are from different (military occupational specialties), they all grasped the concept well and got all the math right,” said Pereyra.

• Date Taken: 10.14.2011
• Date Posted: 10.20.2011 08:57
• Story ID: 78752
• Location: OKINAWA, JP