Photo By Spc. Samuel Signor | U.S. Army Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, drive a...... read more read more
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Convoys moving personnel and cargo through Norway, Sweden and Finland during the large-scale global exercise DEFENDER 24 underscores the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly maneuver forces anywhere in the European theater. They also demonstrate the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s commitment to safety and environmental protection.
“We worked closely with all stakeholders to identify and address potential safety concerns, ensuring that preemptive actions are taken to prevent accidents and incidents from occurring,” said former 21st TSC tactical safety manager Stefanie Diaz.
Diaz likened safety planning to producing a play with a cast of unknown actors.
“You have to set a theater, you have a screenplay, and you know the script, which is the mission plan,” said Diaz. “But you don't know who's going to play which part. So, you have to work with everybody and figure out their weaknesses and strengths in order to make it a success.”
When the curtain goes up, Diaz’s goal is to make safety the star of the show.
To that end, the 21st TSC Safety Office spearheaded extensive training to equip participating units, including 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of running a convoy through Scandinavia and Finland. With Diaz’s guidance, 3/10 BDE created its own pre-convoy rehearsals to enhance overall preparedness and resilience.
“Safety envelopes every aspect of Army operations and convoy training is another critical aspect to achieve our goals,” said 3/10 BDE tactical safety manager Ernst Graham. “As such, we address known hazards to ensure everyone involved in convoy operations are aware of the risk before, during and after operations.”
Graham said 3/10 BDE relied on the expertise of Solders who were trained in cold weather operations and individuals who were stationed in cold weather environments to teach less experienced Soldiers.
“Through shared experience and doctrine training, we will cover the gaps,” said Ernst. “In the end, this experience will be new for many individuals and a great learning opportunity.”
Preparing drivers for high north road conditions was a key risk mitigation strategy. Diaz reworked the regulatory requirements for drivers section of 21st TSC’s Rotational Handbook, which operationalizes and integrates safety in all planning.
According to Diaz, while the transportation infrastructure in the high north is well-maintained, roadways tend to be narrow and there is minimal ability to stop and pull off the road for safe havens.
“The terrain includes mountains, forests and icy roads, requiring versatile convoy strategies to navigate through diverse landscapes,” said Diaz, who videotaped her own drive along part of the convoy route to create training materials. The training video included 18-wheelers traveling by her in austere weather conditions. “They get the visual understanding that this is not like in the states on the highway or here [in Germany] on the Autobahn. Norway, Sweden and Finland experience prolonged winter seasons with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, impacting visibility and road conditions.”
Local wildlife can also pose as hazards. “You see moose walking around,” said Diaz. “So, can you imagine the Soldier not being prepared?” Diaz said wildlife is not necessarily afraid of vehicles because they are accustomed to drivers stopping, per local laws. Part of the safety training was familiarizing Soldiers with crossing areas and local laws and signage pertaining to wildlife.
For months, Team 21 logisticians and planners worked closely with host nations to coordinate movement and sustainment activities for convoy support centers throughout the high north. While the safety emphasis was on risk prevention and mitigation, they also developed recovery plans for each country in case of emergencies.
“We really dug deep into planning for scenarios such as damage to civilian infrastructure to determine what the recovery process would be,” said Capt. Daniel McCall, 21st TSC force rotations planner. McCall said meetings with host nations, including a joint convoy rehearsal of concept, addressed how equipment would be recovered in the case of an accident, evacuation plans and even mortuary affairs.
“Our priority is to prevent any accidents from happening, but if they do happen, we want to have an agreed-upon plan in place so we can respond quickly and according to each country’s protocols,” said Capt. Austin Males, 21st TSC exercise planner.
Another priority when transporting supplies through multiple nations is environmental protection, which along with climate change, is a pillar of the U.S. National Strategy for the Arctic Region.
“Our commitment to environmental stewardship remains unwavering,” said Diaz. “The safety office has implemented measures through regulatory guidance for the environmental considerations of the exercise, including proper waste disposal procedures, adherence to environmental regulations, and considerations to ensure minimal impact.”
Diaz explained that when a tactical vehicle breaks down, protocols are in place to contain fuel and oil, such as using drip pans even when there are no detectable leaks. Convoys also have a ready supply of spill kits, composed of dry sweep, a cat-litter like substance that absorbs fuel and oil. Even losing amounts as small as 10 milliliters of oil is unacceptable. “We’re traveling through Ally nations,” said Diaz. “We have to be respectful.”
A myriad of additional safety precautions, ranging from equipping vehicles with cold weather modifications such as appropriate tires and engine heaters, to staffing the convoys with at least one qualified medic per segment, have been incorporated into the DEFENDER 24 convoy operations.
Just like a hit Broadway show, as soon as a convoy mission is complete, the producers take notes and get ready for a repeat performance. According to Diaz, drafting after action reports and reviewing what went well and what could be improved sets the stage for stellar performances in the future.
“The emphasis for tactical safety is all the prep work,” said Diaz.
According to 21st TSC planners, that preparation is key to maximizing the rapid power projection and prolonged endurance convoy operations bring to contested environments.
DEFENDER 24—Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness—is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe, involving more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multi-national service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2024 07:14 |
| Story ID: | 468318 |
| Location: | KAISERSLAUTERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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