JOHNSTON, Iowa - Whether field dressing a casualty, sling-loading a HMMWV (Humvee) vehicle onto a flat rack, or detonating an Improvised Explosive Device simulator, Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning received an informative, hands-on briefing as he got down and dirty with Iowa National Guard Soldiers during a recent visit to the Iowa National Guard's Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center in Johnston, Iowa.
Fanning, appointed the 22nd Secretary of the Army by President Barack Obama on May 18, 2016, was at Camp Dodge as part of the National Governors Association's Council of Governors meeting.
According to the Sustainment Training Center commander, Lt. Col. David Babb, the Secretary of the Army had sought a demonstration of the capabilities of the Iowa National Guard and his STC staff were more than willing to oblige.
"Our instructors were able to demonstrate several collective training tasks, equipment, and training aids we use to increase our Soldiers' technical and tactical proficiencies," said Babb. "Fanning performed a wide variety of tasks with our STC staff, including loading flat racks, water purification, and vehicle recovery.
The Secretary was exposed to the same process the Camp Dodge-based training center uses in training the Total Force -- active duty, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers -- providing multiple iterations of practical training scenarios, while using the most up-to-date, realistic training aids available.
"This was a remarkable opportunity to share our training with Secretary Fanning," said Sgt. Jeremy Woods, an STC medical lanes instructor. "During the training demonstration he was very helpful and curious about every procedure we completed on the mannequin.
"I was glad he was able to see how medical units train at the Sustainment Training Center," Wood said.
Fanning also had the opportunity to load a simulated casualty into a waiting ambulance and operate an 1120 Load Handling System (LHS) vehicle, as well as a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) wrecker and forklift.
From wheeled and tracked vehicle repair to ammunition handling, from petroleum distribution to Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Unified Land Operations, the Sustainment Training Center has become nationally-recognized as a unique, one-stop shop for all U.S. Army sustainment training needs.
The STC campus provides collective-level training to support battalions, distribution companies, field maintenance companies, support maintenance companies, brigade support medical companies, and forward support companies. More than 4,800 active duty Army, U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers pass through the STC on an annual basis.
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