3-13th Field Artillery performs rail load at Fort Sill

FORT SILL, Okla. (Feb. 25, 2015) -- The Fort Sill rail yard was alive with activity Feb. 16-20 as 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Soldiers loaded their equipment in preparation for departure in March to the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Red Dragon Battalion Soldiers gained valuable rail-load knowledge and experience during the week.

"It was definitely about a week's process," said 1st Lt. Reymond Ramos, 3-13th FA logistics officer. "Tuesday we staged all the vehicles in the motor pool, made sure they were fueled up and ready to go, that was one day. The second day, we rolled out from the battalion's motor pool to here, parked all the vehicles out by the rail cars and made sure they were in order. Today we drove them on."

NTC training gives Soldiers a real time experience similar to that of a deployment. All of the vehicles, supplies and equipment loaded at the rail, would be what the Red Dragons would bring should they be called upon to deploy, said Ramos.

"This is a good training opportunity for all the Soldiers," he said. "A lot of them have never done an operation like this before."

As first time rail loaders, Spc. Cody Graves and Pfc. Courtney Bazile gained valuable training and experience from the week's work.

Graves who typically attends to his duties as a chaplain's assistant, said he is looking forward to NTC as an opportunity to really get into the job.

"I was a little nervous at first," he said. "But, with the right training and everything, it went really smooth and really quickly."

As a communications specialist, Bazile was glad for the day of cross-training.

"I walked around and helped out everyone, ground guiding," he said. "I really liked it, it was a great experience. It was very fun and hard work, too."

Bazile welcomed the challenge to accomplish something unfamiliar and didn't encounter too many problems.

"It's been a little chilly, but other than that everything went smoothly. A lot of the chains are kind of rusty, but we took care of that with penetrating oil," he said with a smile.

The Soldiers were assisted by Logistics Readiness Center civilians and civilian contractors who are familiar with securing military vehicles on the rail cars. With their help, all the Red Dragon vehicles made it across the metal slats onto the rail cars and into position where they were secured with chains.

Once the train is ready to leave post, each piece of equipment will be labeled and tracked throughout the shipment to ensure everything arrives at the NTC.

First Lt. Unna Lee, unit movement officer (UMO) for the 3-13th FA. provided oversight during the load operations.

"Today was the easy part because on rail stage day everything leaves the motor pool and has to be in a certain order," said Lee. "Today everything drives straight on and gets shackled down, it has been smooth."

Lee also assisted with last year's load and shipment to NTC.

"Last year I was in training to be the battalion UMO," she said. "This one, this is my show. Two weeks ago we put 75 Soldiers through the tie down course and everyone else that didn't go through that class is getting on-the-job training today."

Sgt. Ming Ng, a heavy wheel vehicle operator with 66th Forward Support Company, is familiar with vehicle load operations and eagerly helped show first-timers the ropes.

"There are different kinds of chains and binders we use to strap things down," said Ng. "A lot of these guys need to learn the TCNs (tracking control numbers) and MSLs (military shipping labels); there's a lot of different abbreviations they start learning.

"This is a good experience for everyone who's preparing to move vehicles whether it's for NTC like we're going to now or for deployments. When these Soldiers start moving gear and equipment for deployments, these are skills they are definitely going to be using for the future," he said.

Once all the vehicles are secured and labeled, they will begin a predetermined course to the railhead at the NTC where an advanced party will begin unloading.

Operations at the rail yard went well said Lee and Ng.

"A lot of the newer Soldiers are getting good training and learning how to use a lot of the equipment," said Ng. "We had newer Soldiers driving all the vehicles on so it was a good experience, scary for some; but, by the time they made it all the way down to the end they're experienced drivers on the rail."

With over 100 vehicles loaded and 200 Soldiers ready, the Red Dragons are mission-ready and focused for their upcoming training.