FORT GREELY, Alaska - The mountainous terrain of Afghanistan can be challenging for some of the military's larger vehicles. Driving on narrow, unimproved roads results, all too often, in overturned vehicles from a variety of perils. When this happens, Soldiers have to get those vehicles out. One thing that helps with this task is training in terrain similar to that in an operational environment, using the equipment they will need for these types of recoveries.
Soldiers from the 25th Brigade Support Battalion out of Fort Wainwright recently spent a week learning how to recover vehicles from situations like these using an M88 Armored Recovery Vehicle at the Army's Cold Regions Test Center located near Fort Greely.
The M88 is one of the largest all weather armored recovery vehicles currently in use and performs hoisting, winching, and towing operations in support of battlefield rescue and recovery missions. The M88 is also equipped to provide maintenance support for the main battle tank family and similar vehicles. CRTC owns the only two M88s in the state of Alaska, making them a valuable training asset for all nearby units.
A handful of Soldiers from the BSB used the M88 regularly in previous deployments to Afghanistan, but, until recently, training opportunities were limited and most Soldiers had to learn in the field. Sgt. 1st Class Erick Mitchell, senior non-commissioned officer and one of four Soldier instructors at CRTC, said this was a "unique, hands-on training opportunity that we can't get anywhere else in Alaska."
Before this group of 20 Soldiers traveled to the test center, the group's knowledge of and skill level at operating an M88 was limited. "I would say 75 percent of these guys never used an M88 before," said Mitchell.
The main goal of the course was to give each Soldier "hands-on experience" on the M88 before the unit's rotation through the National Training Center in California. The course, taught by the four experienced members of the group and CRTC's Senior Test Non-Commissioned Officer Sgt. 1st Class John Schnering, covered everything from drivers' training, preventive maintenance checks and services, vehicle roll-overs, hasty recovery, to tandem recovery using an M984 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck.
Spec. Shawn Griffin, one of the Soldiers who had deployed with an M88 to Afghanistan, was able to come to CRTC and help teach others how to operate the vehicle. However, this wasn't just a teaching experience. "I learned more here that I had in my previous training assignments," he said. He went on to say that the most valuable thing he learned was the use of basic issue items in maintaining the equipment.
Pvt. Patrick Perdue came to this training without ever having before using an M88. "There is a lot to learn," he pointed out. "Now we can go back to our units with the experience and information to share it with others."
On the last day of training, the students were able to put what they had learned to the test by performing recovery missions. "These missions and scenarios were the likely things Soldiers will come across in a combat recovery situation, giving them real-world experience they can fall back on in future deployments," explained Schnering.
After a long week of training, the Soldiers left CRTC with the hope they would be able to return in the spring for another round of training on the M88. "We got the snow this time; next time we want the mud," said Mitchell with a smile.
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US Army Test and Evaluation Command (Official)
US Army Cold Regions Test Center (Official)
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