Photo By Staff Sgt. Mike Norris | A convoy stops to investigate a possible IED during convoy training at Contingency...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION TAJI, Iraq - As U.S. forces in Iraq continue to transition security responsibilities to their Iraqi counterparts, they are conducting the final transition of U.S. bases to Iraqi control as well.
But to make this happen, it requires the movement of stuff -- a lot of stuff. The 123rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Armored Division, is one of many units that have been tasked with the logistical requirements of moving American equipment out, so the Iraqis can move in.
To prepare for this, the 123rd BSB conducted training, Sept. 8-14, at COS Taji, that focused on preparing convoy commanders and assistant convoy commanders to lead the soldiers of the 123rd BSB.
The convoy leaders course began each day with rigorous physical training, including working out in body armor and a ruck march to prepare them for the physical and mental stress of moving large quantities of equipment across Iraqi roads.
“We are going to be sitting in convoys sometimes seven or eight hours and we will have to be in that gear,’’ said 1st Sgt. Charmerley Rogers, the Company A, 123rd BSB 1st Sgt., the non-commissioned officer in charge of the convoy leaders course.
The 123rd BSB brought in experts from several different fields to teach the classes that the convoy leaders attended during the course, said Rogers. Every class was taught by an expert.
The classes went into detail on a wide variety of subjects including IED recognition, communications equipment, medical first aid, and vehicle recovery.
Every class was followed up with a hands-on portion to insure that the leaders retained the material. As part of the hands on training, the convoy leader had to practice recovering a damaged vehicle from the battlefield.
“We had to go through the complete recovery process,” said 1st Lt. Tyler Kostiuk, the executive officer with Company A, 123rd BSB, and a student in the convoy leaders course.
“Convoy commanders are not going to be the ones physically recovering the vehicles, but it’s good that we got hands on, so we know what’s going on and what the process takes,” he said.
The convoy leaders were also taught in-depth how to plan a convoy, and to use the staff sections in their battalion to assist their planning process.
A member of every staff section in the 123rd BSB came to the course to speak about how they could assist the convoy commanders in creating a convoy plan.
Even after all the class room and hands-on training, the convoy leaders still had to pass seven tests and a final exam, said Rogers.
After three days of classes the skills gained were put to the test during a simulated convoy exercise.
Part of the training was conducted alongside U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal soldiers who reacted to a call from the 123rd BSB when they found a training IED on the convoy.
This allowed the convoy leaders to witness a realistic EOD operation in training.
“They were really good,” said Rogers. ‘’They came out and employed all of their equipment just as if it was out in the real world.”
Leaders also learned how to communicate more effectively with the EOD team to give them better situational awareness.
“I learned that you need to give them as much information as you can in a timely manner,” said Kostiuk.
Once the lanes were complete the students stood more ready than ever to accomplish their mission.
“There are so many things that can go wrong on a convoy,” said Kostiuk. "But I believe that the last few days have prepared us to handle any situation that might come.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2011 15:11 |
| Story ID: | 77566 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 263 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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