Photo By Eric Franklin | Lorna Urbano, Army Field Support Battalion-Cavazos transportation division explains to...... read more read more
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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas —The railhead at Fort Cavazos is crucial to the Army’s strategic power projection, and a dedicated civilian workforce ensures its efficiency and readiness. Their expertise is central to the installation’s ability to swiftly mobilize units and meet global mission demands.
At the heart of this mission is a dedicated team whose diverse roles ensure the railhead operates seamlessly.
“The railhead consists of 17 personnel: one supervisor, two traffic management specialists, one deployment coordinator, two inspectors, four forklift/motor vehicle operators, one transportation assistant, five locomotive engineers, and one conductor,” said Linda Heuer, rail operation supervisor, 407th Army Field Support Brigade.
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These civilians are vital to logistical operations, especially in transporting military equipment by rail. They handle staging, securing and moving equipment, streamlining the deployment process and enabling Fort Cavazos to remain a key power projection platform.
As the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares to move more than 1,000 pieces of equipment through the railhead for a rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, Capt. Clinton M. Young company commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd ABCT, 1st Cav. Div., emphasized the indispensable role of the civilian workforce.
“They are part of the team ... they are integral to this part,” Young said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do it; without us, they wouldn’t be able to do it.”
Heuer highlighted how the civilians’ expertise ensures equipment is prepared correctly the first time, avoiding delays that could set units behind schedule. They provide critical support in areas such as hazardous materials packaging and tie-down procedures, ensuring equipment is secure and ready for transport.
“One significant achievement of the civilian workforce has been streamlining coordination for loading and unloading equipment. The team has streamlined the outbound process; units are required to have no deficiencies, military shipping labels and packets prior to coming to the Deployment Ready Reaction Field,” Heuer explained. “This ensures that once equipment is inspected, it can be placed in railcar sequence, and when enough railcars are ready, loaded efficiently, reducing deployment time.”
Young acknowledged the impact of this streamlined process on the unit’s readiness.
“This is the first time that I feel we are all doing this together,” he said. “We are all synced in the morning; we all know each other’s jobs, everyone’s expertise — we are getting this brigade out of here way ahead of schedule, as safe as possible.”
Supporting the movement of nearly 7,000 pieces of equipment annually, the civilian workforce collaborates with the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad on tie-down procedures and they inspect hazardous materials and sensitive equipment for outbound units, ensuring a rapid, efficient deployment.
Civilians at Fort Cavazos also play a key role in training Soldiers on railhead operations.
“The Rail Operations Center provides units with tie-down classes, which show proper securement of unit-owned equipment prior to conducting rail operations in support of training and deployments,” Heuer said.
Their involvement enhances safety, readiness and teaches Soldiers the necessary skills to secure their equipment during deployments.
Maintaining the railhead’s readiness comes with challenges, particularly in recruiting and retaining skilled talent.
“With the rapidly changing environment, even on the industry side, there are increased vacancies that have impacted the ability to flex personnel during a surge,” Heuer explained.
Despite these obstacles, the civilian workforce remains committed to operational agility through cross-training and effective talent management.
“The civilian workforce is the continuity at the Rail Operations Center,” Heuer continued. “The subject matter expertise these civilians encompass catalyzes support to units by providing efficiencies and guidance during training events such as the National Training Center and deployments. Their experience and institutional knowledge have been invaluable in ensuring smooth operations and effective power projection.”
Army civilians long-standing presence at Fort Cavazos significantly contributes to maintaining and modernizing the installation’s power projection platforms.
“Because the civilian workforce has been in place for many years, they have seen many successes and challenges, allowing them to serve as consultants prior to and during operations,” Heuer explained. “The work carried out by the civilian workforce at Fort Cavazos is integral to the Army’s strategic power projection capabilities. Civilians are the continuity and the foundation to mission success. As priorities shift, the mission of the civilian workforce remains the same to ‘Support the Soldier.’”
By streamlining logistical processes, providing essential training and maintaining operational readiness, the civilians at the railhead ensure Fort Cavazos is equipped and ready to support Soldiers on the battlefield, enhancing the Army’s overall operational effectiveness.
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2024 12:35 |
| Story ID: | 483317 |
| Location: | TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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