Photo By Sgt. Betty Dodd-Rogers | Air blows between the two layers of the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter.... read more read more
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FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Often, the fielding of new equipment can be a trying, stressful time for a unit and its soldiers. For the 89th Sustainment Brigade on Forward Operating Base Schoonover at CSTX 91 11-01, however, the adjustment to their new fielding has been quite easy. The 89th is the only unit participating in the exercise that utilizes the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter. This DRASH is an easily erected tent system that is equipped with generators, light sets, internal climate control systems, cutting-edge audiovisual displays, communications technology and its own mobility platform.
Col. Mikel Burrows, commander of the 89th Sustainment Brigade in Wichita, Kan., said there is no comparison to their old tent system. The unit can now run 24-hour operations easily and can configure the DRASH any way it wants.
The beauty of this shelter system is certainly its versatility; the numerous, small pieces can be joined together in a variety of ways, or they can remain separate, based on the needs of the mission. For this mission, the brigade chose to provide every staff section with its own wing; one wing was also designated as a briefing area, preventing the typical interruption of ongoing operations during daily meetings.
Upon receipt of the DRASH system last year, the 89th went through Army Battle Command Training net fielding to learn how to assemble and maintain the tents during annual training. The Army even sent contractors to the unit to train the soldiers, who learned everything from driving the first stake to running the communications wire.
First Sgt. Steven Kennel, the first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 89th Sustainment Brigade, said it takes at least eight people to set up a DRASH tent, but it is still a lot less intensive to assemble than a regular tent.
“The set-up for the command DRASH usually takes a couple of days, but the tear-down is usually done in one day because the soldiers are ready to go home,” Lt. Col. Clinton Williams, the operations officer for the 89th Sustainment Brigade, said.
When the unit arrived at the Combat Support Training Exercise, one of the chief concerns was weapons storage. Sgt. Brian Brigman, the supply sergeant, came up with a plan. Brigman attached two medium DRASH tents together, then secured one shelter entrance to the door of the connex containing the weapons. This arrangement afforded the 24-hour weapons guards more security and comfort than guards traditionally experience in a field environment.
Each DRASH Utility Support Transport Trailer holds a generator, a heating/cooling unit for the tent system, and a storage compartment for collapsed shelters. The trailers are secured to military vehicles during movements and can traverse even rugged terrain.
The soldiers of the 89th Sustainment Brigade are definitely content with their DRASH system, its state-of-the-art technology, and its climate-controlled environment. Shortly after their arrival at Fort Hunter Liggett, the maintenance section crafted a sign for the main tent entrance that displays their unit patch and their motto, “Above the rest.” Certainly, their new shelter system meets their high standards.
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2011 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 72486 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 203 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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