FORT BRAGG, N.C. – After two days of driving, the Soldiers of the 594th Transportation Company arrived at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, accomplishing what their commander said is unique for the unit.
“We rarely get the opportunity to transport equipment over long distances within the United States,” said Capt. Jill Owings, commander of the 594th Trans. Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell.
Arriving at Fort Bragg on May 28, the transportation unit unloaded vehicles, generators and shipping containers for the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. The Fort Bragg based ADA brigade and its subordinate battalions will use the equipment during an upcoming training exercise.
“Usually moving equipment like this involves contracting through a commercial carrier,” said Owings. “Doing it ourselves, we are getting great training and hopefully saving some money in the process.”
Owings said a lot of the Soldiers in her unit recently returned from a deployment to Kuwait where they conducted similar missions regularly.
“For the Soldiers that just returned from Kuwait, they are used to missions like this, just not while in the U.S.,” said Owings. “For our newer Soldiers, this was a great opportunity to see what’s involved in planning and executing a mission like this.”
Pvt. Tanner Ortiz, a motor transport operator with the 594th Trans. Company, said this was his first experience transporting equipment long distances since finishing initial entry training in January.
“I learned so much from this mission,” said Ortiz. “When you go to initial training you learn the basics but coming out here I learned a lot more than just how to drive. I got to see how much planning and training goes into a mission like this, from rehearsals to and battle drills, to safety procedures.”
“I can’t wait for the next mission. If another one comes down I’m going to try just as hard to get on that one as I did to get on this one,” he said.
Owings said the most difficult part of the mission was driving their trucks through the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.
“The roads were really wet, and some of the curves can be dangerous,” said Owings. “I’m really impressed with how well the Soldiers have performed so far.”
Ortiz thinks the unit’s success boils down to patience.
“You can’t rush anything. When you rush that’s when mistakes are made,” said Ortiz. “Our unit motto is “Professionals” and when it comes down to it, having patients really does make you a professional.”
Date Taken: | 05.28.2015 |
Date Posted: | 06.30.2015 13:53 |
Story ID: | 168611 |
Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
Hometown: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
Hometown: | FORT LIBERTY, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
Web Views: | 55 |
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