CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — Alabama Guardsmen from the 2025th Heavy Equipment Transportation Company, based in Jacksonville, Ala., transported over 100 Strykers for the 25th Infantry Division from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5.
The Strykers were moved from Warhorse to Joint Base Balad. This move was part of the first phase in consolidation of forces to major bases within Iraq. The mission required almost all the personnel and vehicles from the unit.
The transportation Soldiers faced many obstacles during their one-week mission. The unit had to cross the Tigris River on a temporary bridge. The bridge allowed only one foot between the railing and the truck tires.
Complicating the mission further, the 2025th Transportation Co. was converted to a
HET unit just prior to their Iraq mobilization. The average driver had less than 100
hours of driving time on the HET. After seven days of transporting the Strykers to their new home, the 2025th totaled nearly 350 hours of driving time, 19,400 miles, and hauled a total of 3,114 tons of cargo.
"They have proven to be very versatile and determined to prove themselves as capable drives," said Maj. Earnest Hearn, commander, 2025th Trans. Co. "I could not have asked for a better company of Soldiers."