Photo By Terrance Bell | Staff Sgt. Stephen Castleman, 4th Infantry Division team member, briefs evaluators on...... read more read more
FORT PICKETT, Va. (Aug. 9, 2017) -– The sand table used for military planning purposes may be considered low-tech by today’s standards, but it is still a field expedient means to map out an area on a smaller scale.
Sand tables were the center of attention here Tuesday during the Ammunition Transfer and Holding Point Team of the Year competition. It pitted five five-man teams against one another in critical areas of ammunition management and operations.
One of three events comprising the Ordnance Crucible, the ATHP TOY included land navigation, sling-load operations and analysis of ATHP faults in addition to laying out a field ammunition transfer and holding area that’s used in mobile combat situations.
Sgt. 1st Class Roderick Williams, a ATHP layout evaluator, said the ATHP layout event required participants to draw out features and arrange ammunition facilities using figures and miniatures on an approximate 4-by-6-foot sand table.
“The purpose was to get a good layout of a typical ATHP location,” he said. “That includes factors such as security, vehicle placement and flack rack (container) layout for customers to come and receive their ammo and get back in the fight.”
Participants – comprised of mostly ammunition specialists (military occupational specialty 89B) and ammunition stock control and accounting specialists (MOS 89A) – were required to brief evaluators on the placement of miniatures and features following completion.
Warrant Officer Marlon Lockhart, a squad leader representing the 4th Infantry Division located at Fort Carson, Colo., said the event is a training opportunity for his leaders and Soldiers.
“I love the competition,” he said, noting his team members all have duties at an ammunition supply point. “It gives us 89 Bravos and Alphas a chance to come out and work together. We get to show exactly what we know, and it places us against the best in our career fields. It lets you know where you stand and what you need to work on.”
One of Lockhart’s young charges, 19-year-old Pfc. D’Morea Walker, an 89B, was visibly soaking up all he saw and heard during the event. Much was at stake, he said.
“It’s a big opportunity for me,” said Walker. “I’m a Pfc. and I have the opportunity to win an award. It is also a big learning opportunity. I see this happen every day, and being able to see my NCOIC and my warrant officer go at it on the sand table is incredible.”
The inaugural ATHP TOY is one of three events comprising the Ordnance Crucible. The Combat Repair Team TOY is scheduled for Aug. 21-25 at Fort Pickett, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal TOY is set for Sept. 11-15 at Fort A.P. Hill.
The ATHP winners will be announced Friday during an awards ceremony.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2017 17:07 |
| Story ID: | 244348 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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