Logistics soldiers compete in truck rodeo

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Gregory Williams, a Shreveport, La., native, and water purification specialist with Company A, 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, hooks a vehicle to be towed during a gun truck "rodeo."  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

07.21.2011

Courtesy Story

United States Division-North

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- When most people hear the word rodeo, images of horses and the “Wild West” spring to mind. For Army logisticians, it brings to mind something completely different.

Soldiers of Company A, 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, showed off their skills during a multi-day gun truck rodeo event at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, July 15.

During the rodeo, squads competed in various tasks such as operating a radio, assembling a squad automatic weapon, and conducting a quick recovery mission on a broken vehicle.

“The goal of the truck rodeo is to inspire soldiers, while at the same time testing their skill level,” said Sgt. Francisco Duran, from Post, Texas, who helped test soldiers during the rodeo.

For soldiers who participated, the rodeo offered a chance to demonstrate their proficiencies at tasks that are essential to their daily operations.

The group of gun truck operators routinely escort and provide security for large numbers of civilian and Army logistical convoys, many of which supply necessary supplies and equipment to remote bases in U.S. Division – North.

“We are always trying to compete to see who is the best,” said Staff Sgt. Omar Bouie, a Newark, N.J., native and a motor transportation operator with 15th BSB. “Everyone talks a good game, but this is their chance to prove it.”

This is a good opportunity to show the company and battalion what soldiers learned in training and daily operations, said Spc. Preston Purnell, a Baltimore native from Company A.

Besides providing a competitive outlet, soldiers also used the truck rodeo as a catalyst for cross training.

During the rodeo, every soldier had to show proficiency at each position, from driver to truck commander to gunner, regardless of their normal duties in the truck, explained Capt. Adam Bradford, from Little Rock, Ark., and commander of Company A.

“We want to make sure everyone is cross-trained on every task,” he continued. “That way any one of them can step into a different seat and execute that task.”

During the rodeo, soldiers continued training on tasks that are vital to their daily jobs.

“Everything we did here is something we do on missions,” said Purnell.

Soldiers do not always get the chance to fill every role in the truck, and if they don’t practice on these different tasks, soldiers might not be as effective at other roles, he added.

Although the competition will only produce one winning squad, it affords all the participants the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills.

“Being the best at what we do is something we take pride in,” said Duran. “Soldiers that might not do the greatest at a certain task today will study and be ready to come back and compete even harder during the next rodeo.”

• Date Taken: 07.21.2011
• Date Posted: 07.21.2011 07:36
• Story ID: 74056
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ