Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Indiana National Guard soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division strap a cargo net to a...... read more read more
EDINBURGH, Ind. -- National Guard soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division's headquarters battalion attended loading familiarization classes over two days at Camp Atterbury.
The classes in equipment loading on trains and planes ensure readiness future training exercises and missions.
Air Force Reservists from the 49th Aerial Port, based at Grissom Air Reserve Base, taught air loading to the division soldiers.
"We’re doing it for you all, but ultimately your folks need to do it," said Master Sgt. Jeremy Thorman, the 49th's noncommissioned officer in charge and an instructor who helped teach the 38th Guardsmen.
The soldiers learned the proper techniques to weigh vehicles, strap containers and assemble equipment so they can be expeditiously loaded on military aircraft for transport.
The soldiers saw the importance of this hands-on training too, and what it meant to them as leaders and their troops as they prepare for a possible deployment.
"It's really important because going out to theater and being able to take what they have given us, it will help us catch a lot of mistakes and more so make this process a smoother process," said Sgt. Kaleb Vinson, of Indianapolis and a 38th ID special electronic devices repairer.
Vinson also serves as a hazardous materials sergeant to help ensure troops safely transport items like flammable liquids, lithium batteries and explosives.
On the first day, the Cyclone Division soldiers learned tactics, techniques and procedures to load vehicles on rail cars. Some of those TTPs included at least six guides monitoring and instructing the driver, safety vests, attention to detail, railcar spanners and dunnage.
The primary rail load instructor emphasized the importance of hands-on training.
"It's super important to ensure and to preplan how you're going to load stuff," said Staff Sgt. Jim Swanson, an Indiana National Guard defense movement noncommissioned officer from Long Beach, Indiana.
Swanson also said it's important to determine who's going to load vehicles and equipment to a certain place in certain a timeframe so soldiers can meet requirements and they're ready to go.
So whether troops and their equipment and vehicles travel by plane or train, the movement takes time, training and planning so that Guardsmen can live up the motto and be always ready and always there and at a moment's notice.
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2023 08:09 |
| Story ID: | 454611 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | ARCADIA, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | EDINBURGH, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | PERU, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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