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Echoes of sledgehammers pounding on metal stakes rang out at the Baumholder railhead Nov. 10 as Soldiers and civilians from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command provided movement support for the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The 170th Inf. Bde. conducted a two-week rail load mission in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation New Dawn, and more than 30 deployment support Soldiers from the 21st TSC’s 66th Transportation Company along with two 21st TSC installation staging area managers conducted the final inspections on all the equipment prior to uploading the items onto trains at the railhead.
The 66th Trans. Co. railhead team trained Soldiers from the 170th Inf. Bde. on how to properly block and brace equipment to ensure the safety and stability of the equipment while it is being transported.
“The Soldiers from the 66th Trans. Co. have taught us on how to block and brace our equipment. We came here not knowing what to expect, and they showed us how to do it,” said Sgt. Eric Kabana, a team leader with the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Inf. Bde.
Prior to the vehicles arriving at the railhead, the 66th Trans. Co. inspection team
inspected all vehicles for maintenance issues and serviceability.
Six trains are scheduled to take more than 400 pieces of equipment to the Port of Bremerhaven in Northern Germany where the items will be loaded onto ships and transported to the Middle East.
All the hard work from the teams will ensure the Soldiers of the 170th Inf. Bde. are completely mission capable, said 2nd Lt. Ralph Mora, a platoon leader with the 66th Trans. Co. and the officer in charge of this railhead mission.
“The most rewarding part of this mission for me and my team will be seeing the equipment move out and seeing it make it to its destination safely,” Lieutenant Mora said.
The 66th Trans. Co. movement support mission is spread throughout Germany with other teams working in Kaiserslautern, Heidelberg and Miesau.
