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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David A. Walker, right, the movement supervisor for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 635th Movement Control Team, 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, builds a pallet for air transport with British Army 2nd Lt. David Walker, a member of the 29th Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, during the Movement Control Team University held at the Deployment Processing Center on Rhine Ordnance Barracks July 22 to 24.
The 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade hosted U.S. and British Soldiers through the Movement Control Team University at the Deployment Processing Center on Rhine Ordnance Barracks July 22 to 24.
The 15 Soldiers from the 39th Trans. Bn. and three from the British 29th Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps received in-depth training on the proper procedures needed when deploying a unit.
The course featured classroom portions covering the steps needed to in-process deploying personnel, paperwork needed to move personnel and equipment, maintenance requirements for moving equipment and vehicles, weapons transportation and storage, how to conduct a proper inventory and how to construct an aircraft load-plan. The group even got a refresher course on the proper labeling and transporting of hazardous material aboard a military aircraft. “These classes definitely show the similarities and differences to how the British and U.S. military operate,” said British Army 2nd Lt. David Wilson. “In the future, when we conduct operations together it is important for us to know how the other works, so each mission will go more smoothly.”
During the three-day instruction period, the international group of military students also received hands-on training in several areas. They spent one morning conducting rail load operations and learning how to properly place equipment onto rail cars for transport. They also learned how to build and secure a pallet and how to brace and block a container to ensure safe air travel for equipment.
“This is definitely a change for us in the British Army because pallet building is something we have our Air Force do,” Wilson said.
As the course came to an end, one U.S. noncommissioned officer reflected on the importance of this sort of training.
“For our Soldiers and our international partners, this kind of training is very important for members of the transportation career field,” said Staff Sgt. David A. Walker, the movement supervisor for the 635th Movement Control Team, 39th Trans. Bn. and a native of Muskegon Heights, Michigan. “These junior Soldiers will conduct deployment operations in the future, most likely with soldiers from other countries, so having this information will help.”
