Combat Logistics Regiment 1 conducted a five-week wrecker operator course for 24 Marines representing various commands in the I Marine Expeditionary Force, Jan. 10-Feb. 11.
The course was taught by two instructors from Motor Transport Instructional Company, Marine Corps Detachment at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and was designed to provide motor transport operators and motor transport mechanics with the tools and skills to operate different types of wreckers.
“Vehicle recovery is an important part of any mission,” said Staff Sgt. Herman Crawford, wrecker chief, MTIC, Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. “Our goal for this course is to train these Marines to become efficient wrecker operators. Meaning that by the end of the course, they’ll be able to look at a situation and figure out a safe and expedient solution for that problem.”
Throughout the course, Marines received classes on what type of wrecker is required for each job, the maximum load each wrecker can tow, the functions of the hydraulic tools, the different parts of a wrecker, the operation and the most important lesson, vehicle recovery, said Crawford, 30, from Houston.
“The course is entertaining and instructional at the same time,” said Cpl. Dane Davis, motor transport operator, General Support Motor Transport Co., CLR-1, 1st MLG. “We have great instructors teaching the course. We’re having fun and learning a lot of information about the job at the same time.”
While keeping the class fun and entertaining, instructors made sure that everyone’s safety was the most important consideration while operating the equipment.
“We have to check everything and make sure that there’re no mistakes being made,” said Crawford. “If a vehicle comes loose during a towing operation, not only would it damage the wrecker, but also [be dangerous for] everything around it.”
According to Staff Sgt. Francisco Murrieta, instructor, MTIC, Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., wrecker operator is one of the most important jobs in the motor transport field, and every motor transport operator should participate in a course and learn to become a wrecker operator.
“You’ll become more skilled and gain more knowledge on vehicle recovery,” said Murrieta, 29, from Yuma, Ariz. “It makes you think outside the box for different solutions, for different situations. No situation is ever the same, so you’ll learn something new every time you go out.”
The vehicle-recovery mission was Davis’ favorite part of the course.
“Jumping into that chest-high water and pulling out the truck, you get a feeling of accomplishing once you complete your mission,” said Davis, 20, from San Antonio. “It’s great to be able to help other people out, and it feels good to know that someone needs you. It puts a smile on my face.”
For Cpl. Justin Chandler, motor transport operator, GS Motor Transport Co., CLR-1, 1st MLG, being able to get a lot of hands-on training helped the learning process. The information and the exercises the instructors provided them with were different every day.
“It feels good to know that I am earning my paycheck,” said Chandler, 21, from Hayti, Mo. “It feels even better knowing that I’m the go-to guy whenever they need help retrieving their vehicles.”
| Date Taken: |
02.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
02.17.2011 18:12 |
| Story ID: |
65621 |
| Location: |
CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: |
530 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, CLR-1 Marines participate in wrecker course, by Cpl Khoa Pelczar, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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