TOOELE ARMY DEPOT, Utah - After traveling more than 900 miles in three days, a convoy carrying approximately 80 Soldiers arrived at Tooele Army Depot (TEAD), Utah, to conduct ammunition logistical training April 6-10.
Ammunition specialists from the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade augmented the civilian workforce in conducting munitions operations at a strategic level while providing training on other military specialties.
"The 13th CSSB has the opportunity to come here and conduct training they are not able to do at Joint Base Lewis-McChord," said Col. David Chase, 42nd Military Police Brigade Commander. "It is great to setup and test your equipment in a field environment, enabling a better trained and rapidly deployable unit."
Training at TEAD provided the Soldiers the opportunity to witness munitions operations at the strategic level. The Soldiers learned similar tasks they can use at the JBLM Ammunition Supply Point.
"This mission is more focused on the ammunition handlers," said Col. Roger McCreery, TEAD commander. "This is a strategic level of operations rather than tactical which provides a unique opportunity for not only the ammo handlers to learn more about their job, but some low density Army jobs to train in other areas to augment ammunition logistics."
The Soldiers participated in several other tasks including warehouse/re-warehouse operations, repairing containers and cargo movement. They learned a system to better track the storage of ammunition, different welding techniques and blocking and bracing procedures.
"This training was a real eye opener," said Spc. Kenneth Isom, ammunition specialist with 63rd OD. "I loved this training because I was able to learn more of my job. [Ammunition specialists] don't get to do their job a lot, unless we are at National Training Center or deployed."
While these Soldiers enhanced their skills, another group of Soldiers were training in a different area of support.
Three Soldiers from the JBLM Fire Department traveled with the 13th CSSB Soldiers to train with the TEAD Fire Department on wide area fire rescue. The fire fighters learned how to conduct drafting operations, multi-story rescue operations and reacting to a HAZMAT situation.
The training opened the opportunity to receive rotational training designed to increase the Soldier's skill proficiency as close to a deployed environment as possible. With the end of this rotation, TEAD and 13th CSSB are looking forward to conducting more partnered training in the future.
"I want the Soldiers to leave this training knowing it was a great experience," said McCreery. "They got to work in their craft, learn something they didn't know when they arrived here, and hone skills in their craft."
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