Soldier’s skills gives unit an edge on safety

Photo By Spc. Michael McDevitt | US Army Spc. Ed Lewis prepares to monitor a training site at the 2012 Combat Support Training Exercise on Fort McCoy, Wis. Lewis is a member of the 78th Training Division, based at Horseheads, N.Y. The 2012 Combat Support Training Exercise presents a realistic and challenging scenario-based training for soldiers.  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

07.31.2012

Story by Spc. Phillip Scaringi 

78th Training Division

Fort McCoy, Wis. – The Army Reserve has a unique ability to integrate professional civilian skills that its citizen-soldiers have acquired and use them to assist the unit in completing its mission. Reservists who bring their civilian skills to the Army Reserve are known as “force multipliers.” Reserve units see it as imperative to recognize civilian job skills and use them as effectively as possible.

Meet Spc. Ed Lewis, an Army Reserve soldier from Orange, N.Y., who serves with G Company, 3rd Battalion, 78th Training Division, based out of Horseheads, N.Y. During the month of July, Lewis has been mobilized at Fort McCoy, Wis., to support the unit’s Combat Support Training Exercise, one of the largest annual training exercises conducted by the Army Reserve. Lewis, an Army Reserve supply specialist, works as a volunteer EMT and assistant fire chief in his hometown.

These civilian job skills on safety procedures and first aid made Lewis a premier candidate to become a Task Force Safety Officer during the exercise.

Safety officers monitor and ensure that all soldiers are in compliance with the safety standards of their unit, Fort McCoy, and the Army Reserve. Lewis keeps a watchful eye on all aspects of the training; from M16 rifle ranges and convoy operations to troop movement around the various training areas located at Fort McCoy. Lewis and his team inform and direct soldiers to key locations such as medical and hydration stations and educate units on best safety practices while training in the field.

The importance of safety is a focus of all people in uniform. Having soldiers like Lewis working in this key role, allows units to prepare for war while minimizing hazards.

Lewis has shown the importance of implementing civilian skills into the Army Reserves, improving unit readiness, safety, training, and mission completion.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2012
• Date Posted: 07.31.2012 19:45
• Story ID: 92468
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US
• Hometown: FORT DIX, NJ, US
• Hometown: FORT MCCOY, WI, US
• Hometown: HORSEHEADS, NY, US