Nationwide Move 15, Maple Caravan 15

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez | Army Reserve Soldiers from the 619th Transportation Company, 812th Transportation Battalion, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), work shoulder to shoulder with Canadian army Soldiers loading vehicles and equipment onto U.S. Army trucks at Canadian Base Valcartier March 16, as the Soldiers begin a more than 2,500-mile journey across the country of Canada in support of Exercise Maple Caravan 15. The exercise which runs from March through June will ultimately involve more than 300 Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers as well as numerous Canadian army Soldiers in a joint effort to move approximately 60 loads of Canadian army equipment from Canadian Forces Base Valcartier near Quebec to Canadian Forces Base Wainwright. Short of an actual deployment, Maple Caravan 15 provides the most realistic and dynamic transportation training experience possible. Soldiers will experience cross-border logistics, inclement weather conditions, operating on foreign roadways and interacting with the Canadian army. This historic logistical exercise marks the first time an Army Reserve transportation unit has conducted a long haul mission across Canada. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jon Fernandez, 210th MPAD)  

CANADIAN FORCES BASE VALCARTIER, QUEBEC, CANADA

03.18.2015

Story by Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez 

210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CANADIAN FORCES BASE VALCARTIER, Canada - After months of planning and preparation, a group of U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from Dexter, Maine fired up truck engines and got their wheels rolling toward Canada to participate in exercise Maple Caravan 15.

The Soldiers are from the 619th Transportation Company, 812th Transportation Battalion, 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. They were tasked with providing logistical support to the Canadian Army to move Canadian equipment from Canadian Forces Base Valcartier more than 2,500 miles to CFB Wainwright.

Exercise Maple Caravan 15 is a joint exercise in support of a larger Canadian training mission, Maple Resolve 15. It involves more than 300 Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers from several States, as well as Canadian troops. After driving more than 200 miles from their home station to CFB Valcartier, just outside of Quebec, the Soldiers from the 619th Trans. Company, joined forces and began loading the first convoy of trucks. They loaded Canadian vehicles called Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW), or more commonly known as G-wagons. They also loaded shipping containers onto flat-bed long-haul trailers attached to M915 trucks.

Staff Sgt. Jason Gilbert, a motor transport operator with the 619th TC, said the loading of the vehicles at Valcartier was a valuable learning opportunity for his new Soldiers to learn loading, unloading and driving techniques from his more experienced Soldiers.

“It’s important for the younger troops to have real-world experience,” said Gilbert. “A lot of the new Soldiers in our unit have not deployed and don’t have experience with these types of vehicle operations.”

Some of the experience the Soldiers received was ensuring the equipment was loaded in accordance with local Canadian laws. They ensured safety protocols were followed by chaining and binding the loaded vehicles in an “X” pattern, and strapping the shipping containers in a particular way. They also removed excess amounts of snow that had built up on top of the shipping containers before driving away with them.

“This is all new to me,” said Spc. Mike J. Oclair, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic from the 619th Trans. Company, who used a long rake-like tool to push snow off of the shipping containers.

“We don’t use these tools back home, but they’re effective.”

A day earlier, a storm had dumped a large amount of snow on the highways and blowing winds had greatly reduced visibility making driving nearly impossible and delaying the convoy. As part of the planning process for the mission, the Soldiers simply waited for the roads to clear and headed North the following morning. Although inconvenient, the delay did not seem to damper the spirits of the Soldiers.

“We’re the best at what we do,” said Spc. Jeffrey E. Paye, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic with the 619th Trans. Co. “We always give 110 percent at what we do, and that’s why we’re here.”

• Date Taken: 03.18.2015
• Date Posted: 03.17.2015 23:49
• Story ID: 157315
• Location: CANADIAN FORCES BASE VALCARTIER, QUEBEC, CA