1st TSC Soldiers train on postal operations

By Spc. Jamie L. Philbrook, 1st TSC Public AffairsJune 5, 2013

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Members of the 14th Human Resources Support Command, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, hosted an advanced postal operations course held at the Postal Training Center, here.

Two instructors from the Inter-service Postal Training Activity of Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson, S.C. came to Fort Bragg to teach the four-week course that concluded May 16. The course was open to all postal and human resource specialists assigned to Fort Bragg.

"We had 12 Soldiers who had never worked in a post office when they started the course," said Master Sgt. Tony Daniels, Postal Operations Division noncommissioned officer in charge, 14th HRSC, 1st TSC. "They didn't even know how to turn on the Intergrated Retail Terminal, (a stand-alone, point-of-sale workstation that automates retail transactions for the United States Postal Service), but as they progressed thoughout the course, it showed how they improved and understood all of the proper programs and procedures needed."

"They learned the 10 areas postal clerks are responsible for," said Lt. Col. Jerome Kuczero, chief of Postal Operations Division, 14th HRSC, 1st TSC. "Which range from selling you your stamps to unit mail room operations, registered mail, and transportation of mail all of the postal operations necessary to move mail into and back out of theater."

Postal operations is a crucial part of military operations not only state side, but while deployed as well. It boosts the overall morale of Soldiers and the unit, ensuring that mail is handled properly and packages are sent and received in a timely and efficent manner.

Daniels explained that the operator's course gives the Soldiers the opportunity to understand the postal language and operations prior to working in a post office down range.

"A lot of Soldiers get sent down range and assigned to a post office with little to no experience and are learning by on the job traning," said Daniels. "The problem with that is some of the violations in a post office are federal offenses. It is a lot more beneficial for Soldiers to go to the training and learn and understand through reglatory guidance what is required prior to deployment."

Despite that fast-paced learning enviroment, Pvt. Rhys A. Mack, postal clerk, 14th, HRSC, 1st TSC, noted that the class was enjoyable and well structured. The class is normally five-weeks, but was slightly accelerated and compressed into four weeks.

"I enjoyed taking the class," said Mack. "International mail was my favorite part. I would like to take the supervisor's course when I am able to. It was very well planned out, I learned a lot and the instructors were very helpful."