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by Sgt. Drew Shipley
Transformation is well underway within the Iowa Army National Guard as a result of nationwide restructuring of the National Guard due to changes in U.S. national defense needs and strategies.
Recently, Iowa’s 224th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, encased its colors, with the structure of both its Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and Co. A, 224th Engineer Battalion transferring to the Nebraska Army National Guard.
Equipment and vehicles from this former Iowa unit needed to be transported to Columbus and Hastings, Neb. to be reassigned to elements of the Nebraska National Guard. This massive logistics operation required a large number of specialized equipment and skills.
That’s when Soldiers of the 1168th Transportation Company, headquartered in Perry, Iowa, stepped up.
“We got a call from the 224th Engineer Battalion,” said 1st Lt. Virginia Taylor, a platoon leader with Detachment 2, 1168th Transportation Company, located in Audubon, Iowa. “They said they had equipment to move from point A to point B.
“It’s really our bread and butter to pick-up, load, drive and deliver,” she said.
This particular assignment afforded 1168th Soldiers a real-world mission to test their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) proficiency and provide on-the-job training while driving their M1088 FMTV (Five-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle). Besides sensitive items like weapons and communications equipment, vehicles such as Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTTs), Palletized Loading Systems (PLS), and High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) needed to be delivered.
“It was a great mission for us,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jessen, Readiness Non-Commissioned Officer for the 1168th. “Soldiers got to back into a dock and practice tie-down operations. Every piece of equipment has a chains and binders process and we got to train on that, as well” he said.
In loading larger equipment, a few extra safety checks were required before they took to civilian roadways. One such process, called kneeling, allows trucks to ride lower so they can safely pass under power lines and overpasses.
“A lot of the Soldiers learned how to kneel their FMTV, which is a great experience for any 88M (Motor Transport Operator). It makes the cargo lower and we can drive them without needing a permit,” said Jessen.
While 1168th Transporters routinely get to drive their FMTVs around the country, carrying a full load complete with a HEMTT wrecker provided a rare training opportunity for some.
“Driving with a heavier load is different because of how the truck acts when turning corners and going up and down hills,” said Jessen. “It takes a higher skill level to do this effectively. It’s important to keep our spacing in the convoy correct to facilitate the fluctuations in speed.
“You can really feel the added weight on the trailer when you’re moving with a full load,” he added.
The Perry Soldiers said their high level of unit cohesion made the movement a success. They had to work together to maintain Start Point (SP) times, fuel point appointments and checkpoint times. Unit leadership intentionally set up the mission to mirror an overseas equipment movement.
“This is something we would do overseas – moving an entire unit’s inventory – so this was a great experience for them. We want to train as we fight, so time hacks are set in place to keep accountability of the convoy. They practiced SP times and checkpoints just as they would during an overseas deployment,” said Jessen.
Pfc. Chase Reece, an 1168th motor vehicle operator and a former active duty Soldier, talked about their level of camaraderie.
“These people won’t leave you hanging,” said Reece. “The teamwork I have seen in this unit is definitely the best, my active duty units included.”
Over a three-day period, more than 90 Soldiers drove 40 FMTVs, while logging more than 1,100 miles. Those vehicles and sensitive items were safely moved to Nebraska and the equipment is now assigned to the Nebraska National Guard.
According to Jessen, his Soldiers also had to complete the 1020 standard process, ensuring the equipment was clean, serviceable and the mileage was accurately documented upon delivery.
“It was nice for them to see a different side of the operations. They actually got to see more of what goes into their mission as truck drivers,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2016 16:31 |
| Story ID: | 213214 |
| Location: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | AUDUBON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | PERRY, IA, US |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1168th Transportation Company helps Iowa reorganization move forward, by Drew Shipley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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