Photo By Sgt. Aaron Ricca | Two mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, or MRAP vehicles, negotiate an uneven...... read more read more
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CAMP ROBERTS, Calif. - Soldiers of the 578th Engineer Battalion received a classic dose of OJT — on-the-job training — in June, courtesy of Team Wheel, Task Force Warrior, a component of the California National Guard’s premobilization training assistance element.
Fourteen members of the battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Forward Support Company arrived on Camp Roberts, Calif., on June 24 and spent three days becoming licensed to operate mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles. Team Wheel used two Category II Cougar 6x6 MRAPs on loan from the Navy for the training. The 26-ton trucks carry a driver, co-driver and up to eight passengers. The soldiers’ training involved lectures, rollover and egress simulation, vehicle maintenance and, more importantly, hands-on driving experience.
The first day of training involved lectures and the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, or HEAT, rollover experience. On days two and three, each soldier sat in the driver’s seat for a rotation through two types of drivers courses.
At 9 a.m. on June 26, the troops conducted thorough maintenance checks then set out toward the drivers courses. The first part: an empty field with lanes of orange road cones. The second: a 1.5-mile off-road course.
The cone lanes helped soldiers get a feel for driving in different situations such as a narrow road or alleyway. Drivers then weaved the MRAPs through another set of cones to get a feel for the vehicle’s turn radius. Finally each soldier took a turn backing the MRAP into a designated spot. “It’s got great turning radius,” said Spc. Matt Tratz. “But the visibility [is poor]. That’s why you’ve got your guys [to look out for you].”
After about two hours at the field, the MRAP drivers made their way to the off-road course. Some parts of the road were flat and smooth like the field; most of it was not. Soldiers rocked back and forth inside the vehicle for more than a mile, inducing nausea in at least one soldier. “It runs smooth on the pavement but it’s jarring off-road,” said Spc. Mario Calix. “But then again this ain’t no Cadillac.”
That evening the soldiers went back to the field for a night driving course. Each soldier drove an MRAP using a small screen called the Driver Vision Enhancer, which uses infrared light to help the driver navigate in the dark.
On June 27 the soldiers took a written test on the course material then headed to the field for one more go-round through the cones, which they made into an unofficial competition to see who could get through quickly but smoothly. In a little under two hours, the 14 soldiers successfully completed the driving test and guided the two MRAPs back to Team Wheel headquarters.
Overall the 578th Engineer Battalion soldiers gave thumbs-up to the hands-on training. They liked how the 26-ton truck handled in respects to steering, gas and braking. They felt it was roomy (without a combat load), but most of them have deployed in the past, so they know to expect cramped quarters when in theatre. They suggested the training might be improved by adding a combat scenario and more off-road driving time.
According to Task Force Warrior Commander Lt. Col. Loren Weeks, California is the only state with a consistent MRAP qualification and licensing program certified by MRAP University at Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas. The Task Force Warrior MRAP program is also certified by the Marine Corps and the Navy.
“I was active duty Army, 1976 to 1982. They had OJT all the time but went away [from] it,” said Staff Sgt. Gus Ortiz. “Now they’re bringing it back. This is the original OJT!”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2011 18:45 |
| Story ID: | 76785 |
| Location: | CAMP ROBERTS, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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