CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - A group of trucks convoy daily from a motor pool here to do pick-ups and drop-offs as part of supply duties for the Victory Base Complex. However, these are not every day, ordinary pick-ups and deliveries. Soldiers are driving up-armored, 36-foot long, Pallatized Load System trucks with a capacity of up to 33 tons of cargo.
These convoys are referred to by the 154th Transportation Company truck drivers as the 'Fabulous Five' or 'Fab Five' because there are usually five trucks participating in the convoy. The 'Fab Five' are popular routes with these Soldiers because they present an opportunity to hone their truck driving and leadership skills while also continuing their mission.
"It's consistent hands-on training, it gets us more prepared and efficient for outside the wire missions," said Cpl. Mark Harrington, from Brockton, Mass., truck driver, 154th Transportation Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. "If a load shifts on the trailer, we know we must stop and dismount the truck, and get the load strapped back down," added Harrington.
Soldiers gain valuable experience by learning to deal with the urban traffic setting on VBC. "There is civilian traffic here and military vehicles of different sizes, it allows them to get their feet wet before they go off the base," said Capt. Corrine McClellan, from Gloucester, Va., commander of the 154th Transportation Co.
Truck commanders play a key role in the two-person team as they accompany drivers on missions in the passenger seat of the cab. Besides handling radio communications and map reading, TCs get more opportunity to do ground guide skills because there are so many tight-fitting areas, said McClellan.
The 'Fab Five' runs also serve as a leadership development tool for junior NCOs where they act as mission commanders so they can gain more experience dealing with civilian points of contact, coordinating mobilization, picking-up commodities, and reporting their status on the runs, said McClellan.
Since so many off base deliveries are at night, it makes sense for the 154th Transportation Company to execute runs 24 hours a day. 'Fab Five' deliveries at night on VBC consist of training with night-vision goggles. They are no-light missions that are referred to as black-out drives. A student-driver instructor, usually a non-commissioned officer from the company, is there to supervise Soldiers and qualify them as ready for off the base missions, said McClellan.
For one Soldier, getting accustomed to the PLS truck's eccentric qualities is part of the benefits to the 'Fab Five' missions.
"It takes a little while to get used to the bounce in the seat and the play of the steering wheel," said Spc. Sharon Wells, from Marks, Miss., a truck driver for the 154th Transportation Co. "There are more blind spots and the up-armor means a roll-over can happen quicker."
"You can load just about anything onto these trucks, including container handling units, t-walls, and humvees," continued Wells as she drove the PLS using her side mirrors to help her navigate traffic. "The truck takes up a lot of space, the whole body has to turn, and the trailer can swerve," Wells added.
More repetition from the 'Fab Five' runs give Soldiers a better idea of how to handle going down hills with loads and how much pressure to apply on the brakes, Wells emphasized.
Also, while on the 'Fab Five' runs, Soldiers get more familiar with the Movement Tracking System, the map-reading element situated in the cab.
"These runs have helped me to be more comfortable with the MTS," said Spc. Laura Boxley, from Belton, Mo., truck driver with the 154th Transportation Co. "If the radios go out or we don't want to use them, we are able to text message with the MTS. The map shows you where you are in relation to where the convoy is, making it easier to get back to your convoy if you ever get separated," Boxley added.
Without supplies, the daily functions of VBC would be altered significantly. For the 154th Transportation Company, the 'Fab Five' runs have made a difference by providing sound logistics to base operations and allowing Soldiers to train up for the next level in their job duties.
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