DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled

Marines with 2nd TSB participate in truck rodeo

Photo By Capt. Aaron Moshier | A Marine with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion races against the opposing team to...... read more read more

CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

03.08.2017

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force

Marines with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion participated in a motor transport truck rodeo at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Mar. 3, 2017.

The Marines covered basic skills in motor transportation that students learned in their military occupation specialty schoolhouse such as backing up trailers, hooking up trailers, breaking down and building up trucks, and securing loads onto the back of trucks.

“We don’t get to do exercises like this much as a full company because we are usually tasked out,” said Sgt. Jesse Hayden, a motor vehicle operator with 2nd TSB. “That’s why today is kind of special for a lot of the Marines because almost every platoon in the company is here and we are competing against each other. A lot of the new join Marines are actually getting to do this training for the first time outside of the schoolhouse.”

Exercises such as this don’t just benefit Marines to make sure they’re proficient with their skill sets, it also helps develop unit cohesion, said Hayden.

“It allows the experienced Marines to lead and to demonstrate and show the new Marines how to do things properly,” said Sgt. Erich Jurgensen, a motor vehicle operator with 2nd TSB. “It gives the new Marines the chance to experience the training and conduct themselves as motor transportation Marines.”

The tasks completed during the event develop skills the Marines will use in a deployed environment, said Jurgensen.

Training like this is important for everyone in the job field. Not only does it employ junior Marines to show they know their skills as a motor transportation operator, it also shows the more senior Marines that they are competent and can use their knowledge in stressful situations to carry out the mission objectives.