TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, PA. - Reservists honed wartime skills working side by side with civilian employees in warehouses and work areas around Tobyhanna May 2-13.
Depot and tenant organizations partnered with over 70 members of the 978th Quartermaster Company to execute duties related to the unit's primary mission-warehouse operations. The Soldiers, assigned to platoons based in Annapolis, Md., Newtown Square, Pa., and Richmond, Va., were divided into nine teams during the annual 2-week training requirement.
"We have a lot of young Soldiers just out of training, plus several seasoned members with us," said 1st Sgt. Theresa Smith. "Tobyhanna provided the opportunity to get some hands-on training in preparation for our wartime mission," she said, pointing out that some of the Soldiers have never worked in a warehouse. In addition, unit members worked in food service and eight drivers were able to train on different Army vehicles.
Army reservists have a limited opportunity to work in their military occupational specialty and according to Smith, Tobyhanna civilians provided a "wealth of knowledge" to assist in the unit's preparation for deployment.
In keeping with the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) strategy, the company will be eligible for deployment in October. ARFORGEN provides a sequential approach that synchronizes capabilities and readiness with equipping and resourcing. It also predicts when forces will be available and decreases the uncertainty of whether or not units will be prepared for future missions. Under ideal conditions, this process can take up to two years.
A majority of the Soldiers were assigned to positions throughout Defense Distribution Depot - Tobyhanna (DDTP) warehouses performing a variety of tasks such as inventory, packing, shipping, receiving and forklift operations. Others went to work in shops and organizations throughout the depot.
"Each year we have the pleasure of training Soldiers who service various environmental control units (ECUs) in the field," said Michael Dankulich, Power Generator and Environmental Controls Branch chief. "The Soldiers were put on a "crash course" to learn how to troubleshoot and analyze problems that occur with ECUs." Assigned tasks included how to recover, repair and maintain the units, perform brazing, which is a welding technique and to recognize safety concerns.
DDTP employees schooled more than 55 Soldiers on the finer points of warehouse operations. "This was an excellent opportunity to integrate servicemembers into the work force and help them refine their skill set," said Ted Nelson, site manager. "We've really enjoyed having the unit work with us."
Nelson explained that another of DDTPs requirements is to "exercise" wheeled vehicles as part of Care, Supply and Storage. The vehicles in storage must be driven periodically to make sure they remain operational.
"The performance standard of the Soldiers has been excellent," Nelson said. "Having the Soldiers here has helped us out tremendously. They were able to execute any task with the help of our staff members."
In other work areas, Soldiers calibrated and tested radiac equipment, conducted receiving operations, prepared radio equipment for shipment and deciphered documents.
"Soldiers who have never been able to work in their field of training have gained valuable training and experience," Smith said.
Members of the operations team praised everyone who played a part in making this training requirement a reality.
"Everyone has been a big help - from transportation to food service and billeting," said Staff Sgt. Jenil Martinez, supply NCO. "Depot officials made sure the Soldiers had what they needed to perform their jobs." Martinez is responsible for coordinating all supply issues for the unit.
Staff Sgt. Corey Campbell said he started working with training officials here about five months ago.
"Annual training focuses strictly on mission-essential tasks, and Tobyhanna offered what we needed to meet all of our training requirements," he said.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
About 5,600 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 CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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