Heavy equipment Marines keep Corps expeditionary

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kris Daberkoe | Cpl. Eugene Keith, a heavy equipment operator with Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, demonstrates the capabilities of a tractor, rubber-tired, articulated-steering, multipurpose vehicle at a company facility here Aug. 23. TRAMs are the backbone of the heavy equipment military occupational specialty.  

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.23.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Kris Daberkoe 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP KINSER, Japan –With the aid of military tractors, forklifts and cranes, Marines with Landing Support Company keep supplies and equipment moving smoothly from ports, airfields or any area of responsibility here Aug. 23.

Heavy equipment Marines of Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, work hand-in-hand with embarkation specialists and motor transport operators to ensure needed supplies arrive to the correct locations on time.

“The embarkation Marines tell us how much weight we will lift and where,” said Sgt. Justin Hartline, a heavy equipment operator with Landing Support Company.“We then lift the cargo using the equipment with the right weight capacity.”

Because of the diverse types of vehicle capabilities, heavy equipment Marines are able to fit cargo containers into areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

“We can’t always have a perfect area to work in,” said Hartline. “Some vehicles are able to tilt at an angle or extend the forklift in case the items being moved are damaged or in an awkward position.”

Heavy equipment Marines utilize vehicles such as tractor, rubber-tired, articulated-steering, multipurpose vehicles (TRAMS) to perform the majority of activities such as loading cargo containers, constructing barriers and forward operating bases, and clearing debris.

“Working with these machines requires an understanding of their abilities,” said Cpl. Eugene Keith, a heavy equipment operator with the company.

Heavy equipment vehicles come in a variety of sizes, with lift capacities of 2,000 to 10,000 pounds.

“There is a lot of equipment that is needed for the different operations that happen on island [and elsewhere],” said Hartline. “Without heavy equipment operators, Marines would need to do all the work by hand.”

The different heavy equipment vehicles come with various attachments such as scoops for bulldozing, different size forklifts and a bucket to allow Marines to reach high areas.

“There aren’t many objects we can’t move,” said Keith.

• Date Taken: 08.23.2011
• Date Posted: 08.29.2011 02:31
• Story ID: 76094
• Location: CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP