Maintaining those who train others

Photo By Rosario Urquieta | Staff Sgt. Dale Wells (center), Observer Coach/Trainer at 1st Regiment 363rd Combat Support/Combat Service Support (Training Battalion), 189th Infantry Brigade, Division West, explains the drivers course to the students of the drivers training class prior to the day portion of the drivers exam training at Parks Reserve Training Center Dublin, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2014. The drivers training course lasted two months and culminated in day and night time driving. (Photo by, Sgt. 1st Class Rosario Urquieta, 189th Infantry Brigade, Public Affairs)  

DUBLIN, CA, UNITED STATES

02.09.2014

Story by Rosario Urquieta 

1-363rd Combat Support/Combat Service Support

CAMP PARKS, Calif. – Skills are often lost when not used on a daily basis. For this reason, the 1st Regiment 363rd Combat Support/Combat Service Support Training Battalion focused its training on HMMWV’s with drivers training and troop leading procedures for the months of January and February.

The Maintenance NCOIC of the unit, Sgt. 1st Class Genaro Garcia, is responsible for vehicle maintenance at battalion level and is the subject matter expert for the drivers training program. As a subject matter expert Garcia emphasizes the importance of training to standard with vehicles they utilize in the field.

“You got to get to know your equipment before you operate your equipment,” said Garcia. “Knowing how the vehicles operate, soldiers are capable of preventing major issues from occurring.”

Garcia stated that soldiers that know their vehicles have more confidence when maneuvering various vehicles. Garcia said a lot of safety hazards that happen are due to negligence.

“The training manuals continuously show warning signs demonstrating the importance of safety when handling military vehicles,” Garcia said. “The more we enforce it and practice safety, the safer soldiers (are),” said Garcia.

A new soldier to the unit, Sgt. George Payopay, said the class was great.

“Based on the training I have taken, this drivers training class is one of the best,” said Payopay. “Being able to communicate and relate with the student is important cause I have gone through other classes and the information goes away right away, but by Sgt. Garcia basing the information on personal experiences I was able to take the information a keep it based on what I have experienced,” said Payopay.

Second Lieutenant Joshua Cantu is new to the Army. He is also in a leadership role that keeps him close to the troops. Cantu has never experienced a class such as drivers training so this was a whole new opportunity for him to learn.

“I thought it was very instructive, this is the first time I have done drivers training, and the actual learning experience can be very overwhelming,” Cantu said. “The only way to learn is to go out there and get the hands on perspective. I feel like I actually built a lot of confidence… the fact that there was rain, that itself made the training more relevant.”

One aspect of the training was getting used to the Night Vision Goggles. Staff Sgt. Kassandra Boswell had previous experience with military drivers training but was able to learn and do something new.

“Putting on the NVGs was really awesome. It was completely different from how I thought it was going to be,” said Boswell. “I was able to see a lot more than what I thought I was going to be able to see.”

During Boswell’s 10 years of service drivers training actually stuck with her. “I think in this unit they really care about their soldiers and drivers training shows how much they care about the development of their Soldiers.”

• Date Taken: 02.09.2014
• Date Posted: 03.18.2014 14:00
• Story ID: 122176
• Location: DUBLIN, CA, US
• Hometown: CAMP PARKS, CA, US
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: GILROY, CA, US
• Hometown: SACRAMENTO, CA, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DC, US