Soldiers headed to the field are now better equipped – all thanks to training from personnel at Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD).
The Military Training team at TYAD recently hosted Soldiers from a Special Forces unit, giving them the training and tools needed to support emerging warfighter needs.
Refrigerators and air conditioning units were among machines that these Soldiers were trained to repair using a variety of techniques - including brazing, which is a metal-joining process where two or more metal items are joined together by melting and flowing a filler metal into the joint. Other course content included the proper connection of manifold gauges, vacuum pumps and recovery equipment to recover and recharge refrigeration equipment.
One of the Soldiers (who could not be identified for operational security purposes) lauded TYAD, saying that the facilities and practical experience they received will be very valuable in real-world scenarios.
“Knowledge is power, but hands-on experience is what you really need,” the Soldier said. “The fact that we can actually use the equipment instead of just learning about it has been super valuable.”
They also said they were grateful for TYAD’s training capabilities, as not many other facilities offer what the depot does.
“Tobyhanna Army Depot is our main location for civilian training and every course they offer is jam packed with good information,” said one Soldier. “It is great that there is such a variety of courses we can receive.”
In addition to the mission-focused training, the Soldiers also had the opportunity to gain the Environmental Protection Agency’s Technician 608/609 Certification. EPA regulations require technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment containing refrigerants to have the certification and associated training for safety and environmental protection. Such certifications allow equipment maintenance personnel to conduct repairs independently in theater, increasing unit readiness and reducing equipment downtime.
According to James Ashton, the training provides numerous benefits to Soldiers – and TYAD.
“Warfighters who attend our training gain experience that benefits them on-and-off duty as well as the opportunity to build relationships with the civilians who support them. Reciprocally, our workforce gets the chance to see how their work makes a difference for our military,” said Ashton, a training administrator in the Resource Management Directorate.
Tobyhanna provides over thirty command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) training programs for the Joint Warfighter, averaging 1,700 Soldier training days per year. Providing a unique environment, depot training programs allow warfighters to learn alongside journeyman technicians and instructors in a capacity that reaches beyond the limits of occupational specialties.
Military training efforts are directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2028/2035 – specifically the C5ISR Readiness line of effort, which strives to ensure America’s warfighters are always ready. The plan aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense's premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.
For information on training with Tobyhanna, contact the depot's Military Training Coordinator at (570) 615-6492.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for C5ISR systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.
About 3,500 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.
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