FORT KNOX, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2013) -- Staff Sgt. Derrick Williams, of Richmond, Va., and Sgt. Anthony Frey, of Fort McCoy, Wis., used the third annual 800th Logistics Support Brigade Truck Rodeo Competition at Ft. Knox, Ky., Sept. 12-14 to practice their required military occupational specialty skills and increase their working knowledge on equipment and techniques used at their civilian jobs.
"I have always been interested in taking things that didn't work and making them work," said Frey, who won second place in the mechanic competition. "Learning how to fix this equipment came from my time in the military and the knowledge better allowed me to go further in my civilian job."
The competition hosted by the 3/399 Logistics Support Battalion with support from Total Army School System Training Center-Knox consisted of a two-person team composed of one motor transport operator and one wheeled vehicle mechanic testing their skills in six challenging military occupational specialty tasks and a written test.
"This competition brings Soldiers together to present their best efforts in competition that tests themselves against other trained personnel," said Richard Giles, commander, 800th LSB. "We expected nothing less and received nothing less than everyone giving their very best."
"This is the third event, but we will always make this event better and more challenging that develops different areas of the MOS's," he added. "We are truly an operational force and regardless of driving a truck, fixing a generator, or turning a wrench we are a part of conducting that real-world mission."
Frey, assigned to the 3/399 Logistics Support Battalion, works as a heavy equipment mechanic inspector at the Equipment Concentration Site-67 in Fort McCoy, Wis.
"The experience I gain from being a 91L (the MOS code for wheeled vehicle mechanic) helped me to get the knowledge and experience my employer was wanting," said Frey. "I inspect, find deficiencies, send them for repairs, and do a final inspection on some of the same equipment I work on in the military."
Williams, assigned to the 3319th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 800th LSB, echoed the same sentiments about gaining the need experience from being in a MOS that correlates directly with his civilian job. "It aligns with my current job of being a line instructor because maneuver large vehicles and train other bus instructors," he said. "This type of event helps enhance my civilian capabilities and will eventually help me get to the top in my civilian career."
"Being an 88M (the MOS code for motor transport operator) allowed me to learn different driving techniques while operating a large vehicle and obeying laws," he added. "I have always wanted to drive and not be stuck behind a desk, so the driver MOS was perfect for me."
Although Williams, a second-year competitor, did not place in the competition he said he feels this is a great experience and will be involved again next year.
"I plan to pass the torch and use the information I've learned this year to train others in my unit," he said. "If I'm not a competitor next year, I would like to be an instructor next year."
Related Links:
80th Training Command (TASS) website
80th Training Command (TASS) on Flickr
80th Training Command (TASS) on YouTube
Social Sharing