Troops become Master Drivers in Puerto Rico

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lymari Sanchez | Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve-PR and the National Guard successfully graduated from the Master Driver Trainer Qualification Course (MDTQC), March 6, at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Ceiba. (US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lymari Sanchez)  

CEIBA, PUERTO RICO

03.06.2015

Story by Maj. Carlos Cuebas 

1st Mission Support Command

CEIBA, Puerto Rico - Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve-PR and the National Guard successfully graduated from the Master Driver Trainer Qualification Course (MDTQC), March 6, at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Ceiba.

The 90-hours course (80 hours resident training and 10 hours online) offered by the Army's Transportation School from Fort Lee, Virginia, was conducted outside the Continental States for the first time, allowing the troops assigned to the largest U.S. Army command in the Caribbean, to receive the additional skill identifier (ASI) as master drivers, known in the military as the M9 ASI.

Those Soldiers who are able to earn the M9 ASI know how to organize and conduct convoy operations with required security measures. They have studied risk management, accident avoidance and vehicle recovery. Their skill set also includes writing standard operating procedures, conducting accident investigations and operating a motorcycle mentorship program, among other tasks.

“This new course is tied directly to a position within the unit’s Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE’s). We developed a course that produces an additional skill identifier, which will help the Soldiers in their future assignments,” said Jeffrey Skinner, director of the Army’s Driver Standardization Office, who personally over watched the training.

Brig. Gen Jose R. Burgos, senior U.S. Army officer in the Caribbean, addressed the students at the beginning of the course and again during graduation day.

“After taking this training you will be the advisors to the battalion commanders on how to properly maintain the drivers program at the unit level. We are lucky to have the subject matter experts here with us, directly from the Transportation Regiment,” said Burgos, while explaining to the troops that this course will definitively increase their possibilities of obtaining a civilian employment with the trucking industry.

The excitement was also evident among the students.

“This course is very demanding because we get a lot of material in a short period of time. But at the end, I believe this course will help us better understand the Motor Transport Operator Military Occupational Specialty. It will also make us more efficient in our jobs,” said Staff Sgt. Victor Davila from the 77th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

“This training is awesome. We have learned many new things that will allow us to implement a very aggressive drivers program in the U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, while teaching the new troops on the correct driving procedures,” added Sgt. 1st Class Edgardo Perez, Platoon Sergeant at the 432nd Transportation Company.

Since the U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico specializes in logistical support, having a solid drivers program across all formations is paramount to increase the readiness of the command.

Army organizations interested in knowing more about the Master Driver Trainer Qualification Course and can contact the Army’s Driver Standardization Office at 804-765-1859.

• Date Taken: 03.06.2015
• Date Posted: 03.09.2015 16:26
• Story ID: 156451
• Location: CEIBA, PR