Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ashleigh Martinez | Pfc. Frantzdy Ambroise, a petroleum supply specialist with the 289th Composite Supply...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas – Wagonmaster Soldiers found the seclusion they needed in an isolated training area on Jan. 24 on Fort Hood where a well-known smell gave away their position away during Pegasus Forge IV.
“We have constructed a 120-thousand gallon fuel system supply point,” said Warrant Officer Shaun Wheeler, a petroleum system technician, 289th Composite Supply Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade. “My job is to ensure the company meets its requirement to deliver quality, clean fuel.”
Wheeler delivers petroleum on demand to maneuver units, forward support companies, and brigade support battalions taking part in Pegasus Forge IV. He receives bulk fuel, offloads it into 20-thousand gallon bags, and then distributes the fuel for the fight.
“This kind of training really does excite me,” said Wheeler. “Our Soldiers, from a sustainment perspective, are getting some training out here right now … They’re setting up three different types of berms that they normally wouldn’t operate on a daily basis back in garrison, so they’re getting a chance to get some hands-on training, which will allow them to meet any requirements that’s dropped from the brigades, the divisions, or the battalions.”
Pegasus Forge IV, a large-scale combat training exercise tests 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) to validate their training readiness prior to their deployment to the National Training Center. Wheeler’s team keeps operations in motion, enabling 2ABCT to meet their readiness and training objectives.
“Without fuel nothing is going to move out there,” said Wheeler. “Our guys, they, provide the fuel so that all the aviation aircrafts, tanks, any maneuver units, things like power production, so generators and things that people don’t really think about – these guys are putting fuel in it and that’s what they provide – the fuel at a quality level for things that operate and go forward in the battlefield.”
The two-week-long training exercise keeps the fuelers on high demand. Each day starts the same for Wheeler and his team – rise before the sun to more fuel and more distribution.
“It’s a lot that they will ask of these Soldiers with the ongoing convoys that they’re doing every day,” said Wheeler, whose team is estimated to supply nearly 282-thousand gallons of petroleum during Pegasus Forge IV.
“They don’t get a lot of opportunities like this to train for the real world, it’s a massive amount of work,” said Wheeler. “But, seeing them construct this, operate it, and get comfortable with it is really important and they’re going to take this forward with them when they deploy and set this up in a real-world situation.”
Wheeler added, “Being out here and seeing these Soldiers out here train is rewarding, and I think that they are making these supported customers and maneuver units very happy.”
Petroleum storage and distribution is one of many logistical and support capabilities the 289th Composite Supply Company brings to the front line. CSCs also provide multi-class supply support activity, water purification, and field support capabilities to sustain the fight and maintain readiness in any environment.
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| Date Taken: | 01.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.28.2019 09:53 |
| Story ID: | 308393 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | KILLEEN, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Meeting the Demand: Wagonmasters Sustain and Train, by SGT Calab Franklin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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