371st soldiers conduct cargo operations for Southwest Asia

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill | Sgt. Johnathan Casto, a Springfield, Ohio native and a recovery vehicle operator with the 371st Sustainment Brigade watches the descent of a M915 tractor and a trailer off of a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Feb. 1, 2013.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

02.01.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill 

371st Sustainment Brigade

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Soldiers with the 371st Sustainment Brigade support and conduct cargo operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom since June, 2014 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

“Our soldiers have done a great job of working with the Air Force, Department of Defense civilians and government contractors to accomplish their mission and solve problems all while being separated from their brigade,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Scott M. Barga, a Versailles, Ohio native and the command sergeant major with the 371st Sus. Bde.

The soldiers are tasked with cargo operations, which includes hauling equipment on and off aircraft and supporting unit movement teams that are escorting their unit’s cargo.

Certain types of cargo requires a unit movement team to escort the equipment during the deployment and redeployment process in and out of theater, said Sgt. 1st Class Joel A. Capell with the 371st Sus. Bde.

Capell, a Woodstock, Ohio native, works as an Army liaison officer and contract office representative for the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group yard, to ensure that unit movement teams have the support they need in order to transport their cargo to its destination, he said.

“We ensure that the process is as smooth as possible for the unit movement teams, make sure the paperwork is in order and proper procedures are followed,” said Capell.

When equipment cannot start or move on it’s own, Master Sgt. Dennis Bloomer and Sgt. Johnathan Casto, both wheeled vehicle mechanics with the 371st Sus. Bde., operate the wrecker on the flight line to offload broken equipment from aircraft.

“We are recovery vehicle operators, we provide recovery and maintenance assistance for the Aerial Tactical Operations Center (ATOC) as well as the A/DAGC yard and facilitate the movement of disabled equipment,” said Bloomer, a Springfield, Ohio native.

The two soldiers are on call 24 hours, seven days a week and must be ready to unload at any time during their work hours, which can sometimes be a challenge, he said.

“I wouldn’t ask for anyone else to be on the job, Master Sgt. Bloomer has 30 years of experience in the guard, wrecker experience and he’s a mechanic,” said Capell.

The three soldiers have been separated from the majority of the 371st Sus. Bde., which deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in June, 2013.

“This is not what I expected, but I get to do my job and it’s been a great experience overall,” said Casto, a Springfield, Ohio native.

• Date Taken: 02.01.2014
• Date Posted: 02.08.2014 03:56
• Story ID: 120320
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)
• Hometown: VERSAILLES, OH, US