Vanguard Battalion Rail Loads 1,500 Tons Destined for Allied Spirit

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Staff Sgt. Matthew Keeler

Date: 01.08.2018
Posted: 01.13.2018 16:58
News ID: 262054
Rail Loading M88 Recovery Vehicle

HOHENFELS TRAINING AREA, Germany – Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team relocated more than five hundred Soldiers and 3 million pounds of heavy equipment across four nations to participate in a multinational military training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area.

“Movement operations are critical to mission success as they facilitate the battalion's ability to operate at its full capacity and utilize all capabilities,” said 2nd Lt. Brian Rice, an assistant operations officer with 1-18th Inf. Regt., 2nd ABCT from Fort Riley, Kansas.

Approximately 100 pieces of combat and support equipment, ranging from tactical vehicles to armored recovery vehicles, were loaded onto rail cars Jan. 8, at Mihail Kogălniceanu Airbase, Romania.

The train is scheduled to travel approximately 1,000 miles, where the vehicles will be offloaded in preparation for Allied Spirit VIII.

The process for moving this equipment began three months prior and included three phases: planning, preparation, and execution.

The planning phase of this operation ensured all equipment was accounted for, included a rail movement plan, and established loading dates.

The preparation phase ensured all vehicles were ready for movement. Mechanics inspected equipment to confirm everything was in working order and secured all loose equipment to prevent unnecessary damages.

The final phase of execution concluded with uploading the equipment onto rail cars and ends with the equipment arriving in Germany.

“Our ability to conduct expeditionary deployment operations demonstrates the unit's ability to be ready now," Rice said.

The battalion’s rail operation is the beginning of a bigger objective. The unit, along with 3,500 more participants from 10 nations, are scheduled to participate in Allied Spirit VIII.

The training exercise is scheduled to run from Jan. 15 - Feb. 5, 2018 and is a multinational exercise designed to develop and enhance NATO and key partner interoperability and readiness across specified warfighting functions.