Photo By Sgt. Juanita Philip | Virgin Islands National Guard personnel from two engineer units train on six newly...... read more read more
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VIRGIN ISLANDS—Soldiers from the Virgin Islands National Guard trained on new equipment this week at the Estate Bethlehem Military Compound in St. Croix.
19 personnel from the 662nd Engineer Support Company from St. Croix and the 631st Engineer Detachment from St. Thomas, participated in New Equipment Training for six High Mobility Engineer Excavators Type 1 that were assigned to the 662nd Co.
“This new equipment is in line with the modernization of Army equipment,” said Capt. Wanda I. Williams, VING’s force integration readiness officer.
“We will be able to better posture Army National Guard units to meet federal mission requirements and provide engineer capability during Defense Support of Civil Authorities missions,” said Williams.
The class was divided into two sections -the operators’ level training, where most of the students learned the operation of the HMEEs and the field maintenance level training, where a team of mechanics learned how to maintain and troubleshoot problems with the equipment.
Both sections started the training with classroom portions before tackling the field training,
to familiarize themselves with their new equipment. The operator section drove a charted route outside of the compound and practiced digging and refilling trenches on the weekend training site.
“This was my first time operating such equipment and it was a wonderful experience,” said Spc. Kenrick Joseph, a heavy equipment operator with the 662nd Co.
The operators also used different attachments to perform certain tasks in the field environment.
“It was excellent because we had great instructors,” said Joseph. “They taught us the ins and outs of the equipment, what it can and cannot do and its capabilities.”
Although for many it was their first time operating and maintaining such equipment, it was great training. “The training was not particularly challenging, I just wish that we could have more real-time experience operating the machines,” said Joseph.
The maintenance section spent their training with a HMEE at the Combined Support Maintenance shop troubleshooting the vehicle and going over the operating systems.
“What I find particularly interesting about this training is how computerized these new vehicles are,” said Staff Sgt. Raynard Francis, a mechanic with the St. Croix unit and a full-time employee with the CSMS shop out of St. Thomas.
“Another important thing that I learned was understanding the MSD-V3 [Maintenance Support Device - Version 3] and how the equipment works,” said Francis. Francis refers to the computer system used to help troubleshoot and maintain the new HMEEs.
Francis added that the training was very informative and the TACOM [United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command] instructors, out of Warren, Michigan were very knowledgeable.
Collectively, both teams trained on troubleshooting engine problems, spare tire carrier removal procedures, systems checks on the computer and hands-on inspections, and operating the vehicles in a field environment.
The HMEEs were pushed based on equipment authorization tables for the 662nd Co.
“As equipment is modernized and units are reorganized, generally all VIARNG units will receive equipment as upgrades are authorized,” said Williams.
All who were involved in the training are looking forward to further training with new equipment to fulfill the VING’s mission.
“The equipment received is assigned to the 662nd Co. under the umbrella of Task Force Alpha, St. Croix,” said Williams in reference to the force breakdown in times of disasters or local support missions such as the recent Territorial Active Duty.
“Our geographical configuration sometimes necessitates the staging of equipment; however, that decision is made at the leadership level,” said Williams. “The cross-training of personnel provides a force multiplier for the two engineer units within the VI Army National Guard and postures VING for successful mission accomplishment.”
According to the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center, the HMEE-I is a non-developmental military vehicle fielded to the Army’s Brigade Combat Teams and other selected engineering units. The HMEE-I is capable of numerous tasks to include repair and improvement of roads, trails, bridges, excavating, earthmoving and loading and clearing rubble and debris from routes and airfields.
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.22.2017 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 260114 |
| Location: | VIRGIN ISLANDS, US |
| Hometown: | WARREN, MI, US |
| Hometown: | ST. CROIX, VI |
| Hometown: | ST. THOMAS, VI |
| Web Views: | 318 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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