Photo By Capt. Hector Rene Membreno-Canales | Soldiers with 1185th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion of Lancaster, Pa.,...... read more read more
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers of the 1185th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion (DDSB) from Lancaster, Pa., are spending this weekend’s battle assembly re-familiarizing themselves on a Kalmar RT240.
The Kalmar RT240 is a Rough Terrain Container Handler that runs on a hydraulic system and moves shipping containers anywhere from 20-40 feet wide.
Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Wolfe, a cargo specialist in the 1185th said, “I wish I would have been in the unit when I was younger; I never got a chance to drive something like this.”
Wolfe has been in the US Army Reserve for over 29 years, but as the senior noncommissioned officer of the unit, he spends most of his time supervising incoming soldiers.
The Army has updated a lot of its equipment for younger soldiers. “They used to have one big steering wheel, but now they use joysticks. Its for the younger guys that play a lot of PlayStation,” said Spc. Paul Dietrich, also a cargo specialist in the 1185th.
Sgt. Cleveland Spain of the 1185th has a fresher outlook on the equipment having become qualified less than a year ago.
“This is my first time since being out of training that I’ve been around the equipment,” said Spain.
Spain said, this machine is essential to the Army mission, because without it, you can’t move anything in or out of country.
Dietrich echoed this statement by explaining how the Army’s cargo handlers supervise everything entering and leaving theatre.
“When a piece of equipment goes on a ship you have to know the measurements,” said Dietrich. He also stated the container’s weight needs to be determined so that it is evenly distributed on a ship.
Dietrich explained that the Kalmar RT240 is typically used on shipyards for loading and unloading containers during overseas operations, but it isn’t always possible to train at a seaport.
The nearest seaport is in Baltimore MD, so most reservists have to wait until Annual Training for the opportunity to train in a real-world scenario. This makes training during the fiscal year imperative.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2014 17:30 |
| Story ID: | 128673 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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