Courtesy Photo | Students in the 89B Ammunition Supply Course (ASC), taught by the 13th Battalion,...... read more read more
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Nearly two dozen students and instructors with the 89B Ammunition Supply Course (ASC) completed ammunition-loading training for railcars July 24 at Fort McCoy.
The ASC is four-week course, taught by the 13th Battalion, 100th Regiment (13th, 100th), that provides training for Soldiers who are reclassifying to the 89B military occupational specialty (MOS).
Soldiers who are 89B-qualified are tasked with receiving, storing, and issuing conventional ammunition, guided missiles, large rockets, explosives, and other ammunition and explosive-related items.
During the two phases of the course, the students learn all of the entry-level basics about the course, said Chief Instructor Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Dobitz.
Phase one focuses on basic work, such as ammunition and equipment familiarization, paperwork procedures, and demolitions training, Dobitz said.
During phase two, which consists of 117 hours of classroom and practical exercises, students cover ammunition-handling operations, such as inventory, issue, receipt, and storage of ammunition.
Students also learn about the utilization of material-handling equipment, such as the Palletized Load System and 10,000-pound-capable Variable Reach Rough-Terrain Forklift.
“During phase two, we instruct a block called ‘Prepare Munitions for Shipment,’ which covers securing munitions for movement and loading and unloading munitions, using drawings,” said Sgt. 1st Class Sarah Johnson, course manager.
“This is followed by a hands-on practical exercise at a railcar.”
The railcar-loading practical exercise spans nearly an entire day of training. The railcar used in the training is 50 feet long and not quite 10 feet wide, Dobitz said.
Though it is older than most railcars in use today, students are able to see how much larger it is than other storage and transport methods that have been used.
Dobitz said being able to train students on the skills of railcar loading is important. He helped incorporate the training into the course in 2015.
“Shipping ammunition can be a dangerous thing, so actually being able to go in and look at how a railcar is loaded with ammunition pallets really makes sense as to how it should be done,” Dobitz said.
“Students have to plan railcar loads,” Dobitz said. “They see a drawing as part of a plan and then they plan it from there.”
The 13th, 100th is an ordnance battalion that provides training as well as training support to Soldiers in the ordnance maintenance MOS series.
The unit, aligned under the 3rd Brigade, 94th Division of the 80th Training Command, has been at Fort McCoy since about 1995.
Fort McCoy has supported America’s armed forces since 1909. The installation’s motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.” The post’s varied terrain, state-of-the-art ranges, new as well as renovated facilities, and extensive support infrastructure combine to provide military personnel with an environment in which to develop and sustain the skills necessary for mission success.
Learn more about Fort McCoy online at www.mccoy.army.mil, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2018 13:37 |
| Story ID: | 288001 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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