By Staff Sgt. Glen Chrisman
1744th Transportation Company
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq – Soldiers of the 1744th Transportation Company are shifting some of their training towards the mission they will have when they come home this fall.
"Even though we are in a wartime environment it's important to get the Soldiers ready for our peacetime mission," said Company Commander Capt. Justin Jennings of Waverly, Ill.
When the Streator, Ill., based Army National Guard unit was mobilized last June they thought they would be hauling cargo throughout Iraq. That all changed when they were training in Camp Atterbury, Ind. The company was told they would no longer be driving semi-tractor trailers but would rather be training for a new mission as a force protection company driving armored security vehicles.
Jennings realized there was a need for retraining in the Soldiers primary peacetime role and tasked out a Soldier to put together a truck driver refresher course.
The course is a week long class started in late June and will continue until mid-August. Attendance is kept small with only six students and three instructors to give the Soldiers more hands-on training. Soldiers who have been given some downtime are rotated through the course, allowing the 1744th TC to maintain focus on its current mission in Iraq while helping to retrain the Soldiers.
"It's good for when we return to Illinois and the Soldiers return to their respective transportation companies," Jennings said. "The Soldiers asked for training to hone their skills so when we go home they're competent in doing their job."
Class coordinator Staff Sgt. Thomas Rubin of Wood Dale, Ill., said it was challenging to put the course together but he feels the Soldiers are learning a lot. "It's an extraordinary opportunity for Soldiers to learn about their military job," he said. "It's an interactive environment where they can learn in the classroom and get some time behind the wheel."
Soldiers in the course agree the class gives them a chance to dust off their truck driving skills.
"I was a bit rusty at first," said Spc. Justin Odam of West Frankfort, Ill. "It took awhile to get back in the groove, especially remembering how to back up (a semi trailer), but the instructors were really helpful and the repetition helped get it in our heads."
According to Pfc. Ashley Davis of Pontiac, Ill., backing the 40-foot trailers was her weakness, but said she learned a lot about binding and tying down loads. "We never really went over tying down loads in AIT (Advanced Individual Training)," she said. "It was just good training from people that have had a lot of experience."
One of the more experienced instructors is Staff Sgt. Michael Bickham of LaSalle, Ill., who uses his 15 years of military experience to help teach the class. "It was only 25 percent classroom material and 75 percent based on our experiences," he said. "They seemed to get more out of the class by talking about problems we have had in the past and sharing our experiences."
For one Soldier the class was exciting for more reasons than just training. Spc. Jeremy Engel of Peru, Ill., said it got his mind geared up to go home. "We've got two months left. It was great to see the trucks and be able to start thinking about what we will be doing when we get home."