BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the 730th Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, completed one of the last retrograde convoys out of Forward Operating Base Shank, in the Logar Province, Afghanistan, Oct. 21, 2014.
During their deployment, the Ruffians have closed down several smaller FOBs but the closing of FOB Shank, one of the larger bases here, is a big milestone for the retrograde mission in Afghanistan.
The 730th TC have been running convoy escort teams for retrograde operations throughout there deployment, carrying numerous supplies to and from Bagram Air Field in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and preparing for Operation Freedom Sentinel.
Sgt. Jarron S. Greene, a motor transport operator with the 730th TC, was charged with ensuring the cargo load of his HEMTT M1120 Load Handling System (LHS), a military transportation vehicle, was securely tied down and ready to haul retrograde equipment from FOB Shank to BAF.
“We are transporting mainly radio equipment, Soldiers gear and other supplies that will be redistributed to other FOBs or sent back to the states, which is a good thing since it will save the Army some money,” said Greene.
The Ruffians also had transportation assistance from local national transporters who hauled non-vital military equipment, which in turn allowed the 730th TC to concentrate on the more vital military equipment which also reduced the amount of Soldiers needed for each mission.
“Having the local national drivers in the convoy makes things safer for us since we don’t have to have additional boots on the ground to drive additional trucks or conduct additional convoys,” Sgt. Antonio Sanchez a motor transport operator from Santa Maria, California. “If we did not have the locals helping us transport this equipment the closure of Shank would have taken twice as long.”
Sanchez was in charge of preparing the local national trucks to transport FOB Shank’s equipment to Bagram Air Field, where it will be redistributed to other FOBs or it will be retrograded back into the Army’s supply system potentially saving the U.S. taxpayers money.
Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Ramirez, a native of Bellflower, California, and the convoy commander of the proud Ruffians said that closing down FOB Shank is a very proud moment for him and his platoon, stating that this closure is a step forward to getting Soldiers out of Afghanistan and back home.
“Our platoon has been working extremely hard to close down FOBs in Afghanistan and being a part of history by closing down FOB Shank is a very proud moment for our platoon, and I for one am extremely proud of my Soldiers,” said Ramirez.