Photo By Staff Sgt. Armando Limon | A Sailor assigned to a Navy Cargo Handling Battalion walks down the ramp of the USNS...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Soldiers and Sailors worked diligently loading vehicles, trailers and helicopters aboard a Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off (LMSR) vessel, here, Jan. 2-6, in preparation for a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, “Tropic Lightning,” transported the vast array of items to the pier aboard the USNS Mendonca, a Bob Hope-class LMSR vehicle cargo ship assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command.
LMSR refers to several classes of MSC roll-on/roll-off type cargo ships. Some are purpose-built for military cargo, while others were converted for the role.
“Task Force Bronco is loading onto the USNS Mendonca in support of the brigade’s rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Miguel Flores, assigned brigade mobility officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th ID.
More than 1,400 pieces of equipment were being loaded aboard the massive cargo ship to be shipped from Pearl Harbor to Port Arthur, Texas, Flores said.
“One of the main challenges with processing equipment through the (Multiple Deployment Facility) was the synchronization of all units involved on island,” he said. “With the high (operating tempo) in 25th Infantry Division, we had to overcome challenges including competing requirements throughout the Pacific (area of responsibility).
Logistics specialists assigned to the 502nd Expeditionary Terminal Operations Element and Sailors assigned to a Navy Cargo Handling Battalion helped Tropic Lightning Soldiers load up and tie down the vast array of equipment brought aboard.
Spc. Giyun Song, a cargo specialist assigned to the 502nd Expeditionary Terminal Operations Element, assisted in the load up by scanning numerous vehicles and trailers inside Mendonca’s cargo hold. Song had to squeeze pass through the tightly packed items inside the hold to scan them one by one.
“It’s a difficult job, but it’s part of the job recording everything for inventory before being shipped out,” Song said.
For most of the Soldiers of Tropic Lightning, this was a new experience for them being aboard a Navy vessel.
Pvt. Travis Hall, an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Inf. Regiment, 3rd BCT, 25th ID, was tasked with tying down vehicles and trailers.
“It’s really different considering what I do as an infantryman,” Hall said. “It’s definitely a new and different experience.”
Hearing protection was used due to the loud ventilation system, and it was necessary for Soldiers to keep constantly hydrated inside the warm temperatures in the hold.
“The heat was definitely the most challenging aspect,” Hall said. “It’s pretty hot. It’s definitely confined, you can say too. It’s fun and pretty cool working inside the ship.”
| Date Taken: | 01.04.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.08.2018 19:04 |
| Story ID: | 261604 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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