Transforming transporters train on three truck types

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Jason Fetterolf | Pfc. Ronald Carstetter, motor transport operator, 1067th Transportation Co., drives the M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter on an off-road course on Aug. 10, 2016 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Part of the 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, the 1067th trained on new vehicles in preparation for transformation from a medium truck company into a composite truck company during Annual Training here. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jason Fetterolf)  

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES

09.15.2016

Courtesy Story

109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Sgt. Jason Fetterolf

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers of the 1067th Transportation Co, 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard trained on three new vehicles in preparation for transformation from a medium truck company into a composite truck company during Annual Training here July 30 – Aug. 13, 2016.

AT focused on drivers’ new equipment training and preventative maintenance checks and services for the M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter and M1000 HET semi-trailer, the M1075 Palletized Load System and the Medium Tactical Vehicle, and was led by the company’s own master drivers, many with combat experience.

The HET is an 86,000 pound, 500 horsepower, 10-wheel-drive truck able to tow the 50,000 pound M1000 semi-trailer and its payload of 140,000 pounds, moving armor such as the M1 Abrams tank. The 500 horsepower PLS is an 8-wheel-drive truck with self-loading and unloading capability and a 16.5 ton payload capacity, easily handling 20-ft. containers on standard flat racks. The MTV is an all-wheel drive, six-wheeled truck with a five ton cargo capacity; part of the Family of Medium Tactical vehicles.

“Our HETs will be our heavy haulers of armor into the field for rapid deployment; our PLS's provide overland modular cargo support with supplies to front-line units, and our MTVs will be the final leg in many logistics chains as their light off-road capabilities can take supplies to where they are needed most,” said Capt. Benjamin Curle, company commander.

As the 1067th evolves via transformation, part of its mission stays the same, while part of it changes.

“We will continue to provide real-world and training support as we have done in the past, but our platforms are no longer focused on over-the-road line haul, but rather, more specialized for supporting tactical field operations over unimproved terrain,” Curle explained.

With the evolving mission, new equipment training during AT proved to be of great value in preparing the unit drivers for future missions.

“[The training has] benefitted us ten-fold… the more vehicles you know how to drive and the more experience you get on every piece of equipment, the better driver you become,” said Sgt. Natalie Livingston, a master driver and six-year combat veteran from Phoenixville.



“Now they are learning more equipment in the Army which will make them better drivers and proficient on many pieces of equipment,” added Sgt. John Burger, a master driver from Westminster, Md. with seven years service in the 1067th.

Furthermore, by trusting seasoned, patient master drivers to be the primary trainers, the company created an optimal environment to maximize the learning of the Soldiers.

“To me, it’s priceless… the experience and the training that we are getting, you are not… normally going to get in any other way. [Trainers] can take their time with Soldiers so they really understand and get the concept of what we are trying to do,” Livingston noted.

“The trainers treat you professionally and equally,” added Spc. Kudzu Gasonu, motor transport operator, a native of Togo, Africa and student at the University of Pittsburgh in Bradford.

Both truck platoons spent one week on HET and HET semi-trailer training, and a second week on PLS and MTV operations, to include PLS cargo handling procedures.
All motor transport operators were issued licenses or driving permits after testing.

Finally, the extensive on-road and off-road driving experiences boosted the confidence and morale of Soldiers.

“[The trainers] went into more detail, gave more hands-on and made me more comfortable driving these vehicles, because I was very nervous [before]…,” said Pfc. Sidikie Kamara, a Temple University student living in Clifton Heights, originally from Guinea, Africa. “I really felt like I accomplished something.”

After reorganization Sept. 1, the transformed company will expand to one MTV platoon and one HET platoon in Philadelphia, one PLS platoon in Phoenixville, and an additional PLS platoon at Fort Indiantown Gap. The company will be reassigned to the newly organized 228th Transportation Battalion. According to Curle, the 1067th will form the nucleus of the new battalion and afford many new promotion and professional growth opportunities.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2016
• Date Posted: 09.15.2016 12:11
• Story ID: 209716
• Location: FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US
• Hometown: TOGO, CF
• Hometown: PHOENIXVILLE, PA, US
• Hometown: WESTMINSTER, MD, US