CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Feb. 1, 2007 - Driving through blinding fog, over rough roads and making multiple stops at forward operating bases would be enough to stop most pedestrian travelers in their tracks.
That's not the case for the soldiers of the 15th "Wagonmasters" Sustainment Brigade. These soldiers travel Iraq's most dangerous routes when called upon to transport everything from sheetrock to tracked vehicles.
"If you can name it and (if) they can fit it, then we can haul it," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Patterson, a truck driver with the 307th Maintenance Company, Kentucky Army National Guard, attached to the Wagonmasters.
Soldiers with the heavy equipment transport company are no strangers to the highways of Iraq. They spend countless hours at all times of the day traversing treacherous roads throughout the country in their 46-wheeled trucks.
The cargo these soldiers transport include all types of wheeled vehicles, tracked vehicles and any supplies which need to be moved to different forward operating bases or camps. Whether the cargo is being shipped for maintenance or redistribution, it must get there as quickly as possible.
As the soldiers arrive at their destination, their mission isn't over.
It is not uncommon for these truck drivers to be caught up in a log jam once reaching their destination. Waiting in long lines for their turn to enter the holding area is not uncommon. Once in the stockyards, their vehicles are positioned for downloading or uploading, depending on the mission. The cargo must be secured before it can be moved. Heavy lifters then use cables to pick up the cargo and place it in a holding area.
The process can become cumbersome when picking up or dropping off heavy equipment such as Strykers, tanks and fully-loaded shipping containers.
These soldiers know that the mission is not complete until all cargo is secured either on their vehicles or in the holding area.
"Sometimes it takes a while with all the cargo we bring," said Patterson. "We know that we don't go home until the mission is complete, though, no matter how long it takes."
When staging for departure, the soldiers get ready for more of life on the road.
"This is our home," said Pvt. Shawn Hall, a truck driver for 1687th Combat Support Battalion, National Guard Heavy Equipment Transport Company. "It's just you, your partner and the open road ahead."
The missions these soldiers take part in can last more than two months with destinations being added throughout the run. Some clips start out as quick drops and end up taking up to a week or more, if given orders to make extra stops.
No matter what needs to go or where it needs to go, the soldiers of 307th Maintenance Company are ready for the long haul.
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