Photo By Capt. Fernando Ochoa | Heavy Equipment Transport training was conducted at the Nellis Armed Forces Reserve...... read more read more
LAS VEGAS – Soldiers from the 257th Transportation Company conducted Heavy Equipment Transport training at the Nellis Armed Forces Reserve Center on Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Feb. 9-19.
Thirty-one Soldiers from the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s down trace units participated in an 80-hour driver's training course, which included classroom and motor pool instruction, to enhance unit readiness for their assigned Army Contingency Force mission and to become fully licensed HET drivers.
"Our goal is to get as many Soldiers HET qualified as possible,” said Capt. Robert Albain, 257th TC Detachment commander, Vallejo, California. “This training is important so that our unit’s combat readiness is increased and our Soldiers can deploy when called upon.”
The training focused on the M1070 Truck Tractor and the M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter Semi-trailer. Produced by Oshkosh Truck, the HET transports payloads up to 70 tons, primarily Abrams tanks, but is also used for other large military equipment such as forklifts and various tracked vehicles.
After the classroom instruction, the students moved to the Nevada desert for hands-on training. Soldiers took turns driving the huge vehicles, the largest in the U.S. Army fleet, around orange cones and in every possible direction under the supervision of Staff Sgt. Matthew Schneider, 257th TC training noncommissioned officer in charge.
“We have highly motivated Soldiers out here who are dedicated to this valuable training,” said Schneider. “This training helps us be combat ready and I wish we could have more classes, but we are bound by funding issues.”
The Soldiers also became proficient in left/right turns, serpentine, backing up, both tractor and trailer tire changing, coupling/uncoupling, convoy safety and winching operation.
The HET training course concluded with a graduation ceremony. Capt. Michael Massey, 257th TC commander, handed out course completion certificates to each Soldier and thanked them for their efforts.
“I want to thank you all for coming here to Nellis AFB and participating in this very important driving course,” said Massey. “We will continue our efforts to get as many truck drivers HET qualified as possible.”
The Transportation Corps was established July 31, 1942, by Executive Order 9082 and is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army. It is headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia, and is responsible for the movement of personnel and material by truck, rail, air, and sea.
The 257th Transportation Company (CBT HET) mission is to move to area of operations to relocate heavy maneuver forces on the battlefield and provide heavy equipment transportation for operational and tactical relocation.
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2015 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 154994 |
| Location: | LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,165 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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