Leading from the Front

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade | U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Ruben Abreu (right), 839th Movement Control Team, Miami, Fla., is briefed by his team during an after action review on Tactical Assembly Area Ward as part of Combat Support Training Exercise 91-16-02, Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., June 18, 2016. The duties of an MCT for both this training scenario and a real-world mission include allocating transportation; coordinating movement of Soldiers, equipment, and bulk fuel and water shipments; and tracking the location of cargo shipments. As the largest U.S. Army Reserve training exercise, CSTX 91-16-02 provides Soldiers with unique opportunities to sharpen their technical and tactical skills in combat-like conditions. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Tom Wade, 367th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, UNITED STATES

06.18.2016

Story by Sgt. Tom Wade 

367th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif., June 18, 2016 – Thousands of miles from the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the exuberant night life of his hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida, is U.S. Army Reserve Cpt. Ruben Abreu. He is bivouacked at Tactical Assembly Area (TAA) Ward to ensure that all vehicle movement is documented, tracked and traversing a safe route as the Soldiers in the convoys participate in Combat Support Training Exercise (CSTX) 91-16-02, Fort Hunter Liggett, California.

“Our company mission is to provide movement control teams (MCT) route visibility from the area of operation to TAA Ward,” said Capt. Ruben Abreu, 839th MCT, Miami, Florida.

As the largest U.S. Army Reserve training exercise, CSTX 91-16-02 provides Soldiers with unique opportunities to sharpen their technical and tactical skills in combat-like conditions. The duties of an MCT for both this training scenario and a real-world mission include allocating transportation; coordinating movement of Soldiers, equipment, and bulk fuel and water shipments; and tracking the location of cargo shipments.

“I spent ten years on active duty honing skills needed to be a great leader,” said Abreu. “After becoming a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, I got the opportunity to go to the six-month active duty Captain Career Course which only helped me further sharpen my tactical skills and show me what it really takes to be a logistics officer.”

As a first generation service member, with a Master of Business Administration from Trident University, Abreu takes pride in teaching Soldiers the U.S. Army Reserve way of life.

“Not every citizen is born to serve,” said Abreu. “It’s my job to get the very best out of my Soldiers so the mission can move forward. I enjoy being here on annual training with my military family because this job challenges me in a different way than my usual daily routine.”

The CSTX 91-16-02 is replete with tasks that allow officers like Abreu to prepare for difficult and new situations. As a key leader on the MCT, Abreu is contributing to mission success by enforcing the rules of the road on the dusty trails of Fort Hunter Liggett.

• Date Taken: 06.18.2016
• Date Posted: 06.22.2016 16:49
• Story ID: 202150
• Location: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US