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The 39th Transportation Battalion’s 66th Transportation Company continued readying themselves for an upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by spending some time at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels.
“We are going to be pulling line haul missions all over theater and to other locations. We will basically be the distribution line for the entire theater,” said Capt. Christopher Brown the company commander for 66th Trans. Co.
With such an important mission the Soldiers received a lot of realistic training while at JRMC.
While at JRMC, the 66th Trans. Co. Soldiers wore multiple integrated laser engagement system gear.
The gear simulates being shot if targeted by a member of the opposing forces.
“We started with situational training exercise lanes where platoons go out and conduct operations, engage enemy targets, and come under contact with indirect fire and improvised explosive devices while they are on the roads. These are all things that they would potentially have to deal with while they are deployed,” said Brown.
That training included a convoy operation that came upon some Iraqi army soldiers who had been wounded.
The unit was required to evaluate the casualties, radio in a nine-line medical evacuation request, and carry the wounded to a simulated helicopter evacuation site.
During the training at JRMC the unit was graded by observer controllers, who watched the 66th Trans. Co. Soldiers perform the tasks given to them and then evaluated how these Soldiers reacted to the various situations.
The unit is then given a grade for that scenario based on its performance.
The grading system allows the unit to see which areas they need more training in and which tasks they are proficient in.
“They (the observer controllers) are very helpful. If they see something you are not doing right, they let you know. If you are doing it right, they might tell you to tweak it a little to perform better and to maximize your strategy,” said Pvt. Jesse Crye, a motor transport operator with the 66th Trans. Co., who has been with the unit for six months.
A large number of the 66th Trans. Co. Soldiers have served in the Army for a relatively short period of time and have not deployed.
“Our Soldiers have been doing really well. I’m surprised by that because most of our Soldiers are new. We get out there, and they learn quickly and adjust,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Holman, a transport operator and squad leader for 3rd Platoon, 66th Trans. Co.
