Photo By Master Sgt. Lia Aragon | Cpl. Peter R. Hager, center, platoon loadmaster for 2nd Platoon, Transport Support...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHUKVANI, Afghanistan - On their last convoy together, while most Marines were looking at wrapping up their deployment, one noncommissioned officer saw the start of his second contract.
Cpl. Peter R. Hager always saw the Marine Corps as a short term plan—serve honorably for four years and then get out. But Hager’s second deployment to Afghanistan changed his view on the Corps.
“The Marine Corps grew on me,” said Hager, loadmaster for 2nd Platoon, Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 2. “I thought about if I got out, what could I see myself doing. There was just nothing there. I couldn’t see myself doing anything different.”
On his last convoy before returning home, Hager re-enlisted in a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Shukvani, June 10. The ceremony’s location was fitting, as Hager has spent the last six months traveling to Shukvani and other bases within Helmand province retrograding equipment in preparation for the withdrawal of troops in 2014.
Hager says he owes a lot of his decision to re-enlist to the experience he gained on this deployment.
“Afghanistan is where you learn your job,” said Hager, a Springfield, Mass., native. ”You can go to (military occupational specialty) school and learn how to drive a truck, but this is where you learn to do your job. There’s no other place that you can get this experience, for as far as, ‘How much can I fit on this truck, or how am I going to put this together?’ That’s why I like the deployments. I like the challenges.”
As the loadmaster, Hager is in charge of organizing the transport and loading of all gear the platoon will be transporting to different locations. He consistently looks for ways to load as much as allowed on a vehicle.
Hager and his platoon spent every week outside the wire, and despite being constantly on the go, his unit never came under attack or hit an improvised explosive device.
Staff Sgt. William R. Schultz, the platoon sergeant, boasts about Hager being the best loadmaster in the company.
“I don’t speak from a biased opinion, I speak from experience,” said Schultz, a Detroit native. “I have been in another platoon and their load master has struggled to perform anywhere near as well as Cpl. Hager.”
As the single point of contact for all loads, Hager was personally responsible for the rigging, securing and transportation during combat logistics operations.
“He takes pride in every aspect of his job,” said Schultz. “Cpl. Hager consistently sought out and coordinated with supported units, and was often able to take more than requested, transporting extra gear and personnel.”
Not only did Hager excel in his job, but also took the opportunity to learn from the Marines he works with. Hager says he has learned more about trucks in the last six months from his fellow NCOs than he has in his three years with the Marine Corps.
“We are a different breed, some of the smartest people I have ever met are in this platoon,” said Hager. “We are always steered in the right direction. We never wait to get anything done, if it’s possible, we are going to do it. That’s just our nature. You can throw whatever you want at us, regardless, we are going to do it. “
| Date Taken: | 07.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.23.2013 06:02 |
| Story ID: | 110629 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHUKVANI, AF |
| Hometown: | DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US |
| Hometown: | SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 556 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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