225th BSB Soldiers take part in Operation Red Ball

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Davis | A Soldier assigned to 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team recovers a downed vehicle in the mud during Operation Red Ball at Dillingham Airfield in Waialua, Hawaii. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Molly Sevcik, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team)  

WAIALUA, HI, UNITED STATES

02.23.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Carlos Davis 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

WAIALUA, Hawaii – Members of 225th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and supporting Forward Support Companies (FSC) engaged in the spirit of friendly competition during Operation Red Ball Express (ORBE) at Dillingham Airfield in Waialua, Hawaii. ORBE was what is commonly referred to as a truck rodeo.

Companies throughout the BSB, including FSCs attached to other Battalions within 2SBCT, sent a total of 34 soldiers to compete in a number of events. Each focused on a different vehicle platform. Spectators saw competitors on everything from the 10K All Terrain Lifter Army System, also known as a forklift, to the powerful HEMTT Recovery Truck, more commonly called a wrecker, capable of retrieving a four-axeled Load Handling System (LHS) stuck bed-deep from a muddy ditch.

“Because it’s a competition, competition breeds excellence,” said 225th Brigade Support Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Michael Titus, a native of Reading, Pa. “And because the FSCs are attached to maneuver units, they don’t get a whole lot of opportunity to compete against each other or with like formations… They’re the only logistics units [within their attached battalions].”

Cross-brigade events like ORBE are important training activities, as they encourage a spirit of friendly competition. However, planning an event like this requires strategy and synchronization at the highest level.

Capt. Eric Kim, a native of Maplewood, New Jersey, a logistics officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 225th BSB and the officer-in-charge for the event, explained the process of developing ORBE.

“Red Ball Express required support from many entities,” Kim said. “Coordinating with range control; detailed planning from the subject matter experts of the systems; supporting elements from the companies for the details; staff ensuring awards are processed for the winners …”

Overall the competition consisted of LHS, Field Litter Ambulance, Medical Evacuation Vehicle, forklift and wrecker lanes. Each one of these platforms is unique in its purpose and capabilities, so it’s not surprising that one company did not dominate during the week of competition.

“The winners were across the board,” Kim said, “with different companies winning in different events.”

The winners each received Army Achievement Medals.

This event, and events like it, promotes connections between collections of Soldiers who, outside of a tactical environment, might never have any real interactions with each other.

“Bringing all the logistic units together, along with the base companies, allows us to compare oranges to oranges and apples to apples,” said Titus. “The FSCs build a bond not only with the BSB, but also grow pride for the maneuver unit that they support.”

Events like ORBE help reestablish that lost connection, and encourage base training standards across job specialties.

• Date Taken: 02.23.2015
• Date Posted: 02.24.2015 15:45
• Story ID: 155267
• Location: WAIALUA, HI, US
• Hometown: MAPLEWOOD, NJ, US
• Hometown: READING, PA, US