1st Cavalry Soldiers Conduct Rail Load Operations

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Soldiers of the 2nd battalion, 5th Cavalry regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conduct rail head load operations in Romania as part of Atlantic resolve, an enduring training exercise between NATO and U.S. forces, June 27, 2018. They off loaded several armored vehicles including M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicles and dozens of wheeled vehicles for future training missions at Smardan Training Area, Romania.  

SMARDAN, ROMANIA

06.27.2018

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan    

382nd Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers of the 2nd battalion, 5th Cavalry regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conducted rail load operations at the Sendreni railhead in Romania as part of Atlantic resolve, an enduring training exercise between NATO and U.S. forces, June 27, 2018.

The Soldiers off loaded several armored vehicles including M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicles and dozens of wheeled vehicles for future training missions at Smardan Training Area, Romania.

The day was cool and rainy as the train loaded with the vehicles arrived at the loading platforms. Soldiers inspected each machine, checking their condition for flaws and deadline items.

There was a constant rumble of motors and clanking of caterpillar tracks as the Soldiers drove the vehicles off the long flat rail cars. Drivers followed the hand signals of the ground guides who kept a careful eye on the huge armored vehicles.

"This is a training deployment for the Soldiers to better ourselves and learn what they can accomplish," said Army Sgt. Anthony Elliot, a section sergeant with Headquarters Company, 2nd battalion, 5th Cavalry regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Practice, training and horsepower turned the mud that was the road into a staging area for a convoy to Smardan. Leaders directed the heaviest vehicles to a mobile crane to be lifted onto tractor trailers for transport by road to their final destination.

"You have to listen to your ground guide and be safe, it's a priority," said Army Pvt. Ryan Goodsell, a Bradley driver assigned to B Company, 2nd battalion, 5th Cavalry regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The Romanian military police officers stopped traffic as the convoy departed. Families waved to the Soldiers as the convoy continued across country roads to the training area.

The convoy ended as the drivers parked in an field next to some M1 Abrams tanks , numerous wheeled and tracked vehicles, lined up for future training at Smarden.

"It's going to be the base for all our battalion live fire exercises," said 1st Lt. Thomas Clouse, Executive Officer of Headquarters Company, 2nd BN.

• Date Taken: 06.27.2018
• Date Posted: 07.01.2018 03:46
• Story ID: 282950
• Location: SMARDAN, RO