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Knox heavy transporters welcomed with driver training

By 233rd Transportation Company Public AffairsJuly 12, 2010

Knox heavy transporters welcomed with driver training
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Knox heavy transporters welcomed with driver training
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 233rd Transportation Company Soldiers, Pvt. Kenne Goode, Pvt. 1st Class Jonathan Entwhistle, Pvt. Matthew Woode, and Spec. Joshua Bryant, study for the HET driver training final written exam in the 233rd motor pool conference room June 22. All four S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Knox heavy transporters welcomed with driver training
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Kayla Stone, Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Evans and Pvt. 1st Class Kevin Nelson of the 233rd Transportation Company observe Pvt. Melanie Fisher practice winching operations on the HET in preparation for the final exam of HET driver training. The train... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Knox heavy transporters welcomed with driver training
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Evans of 233rd Transportation Company mounts the HET for his final road test of HET driver training at Farmer Motor Pool Jun 22. The road test included driving around various Fort Knox range roads, weaving through cones, and bac... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. - Fourteen Soldiers from the 3d Sustainment Command's (Expeditionary) 233rd Transportation Company conducted HET (Heavy Equipment Transport) driver training at Farmer Motor Pool from June 7 through June 22.

Soldiers trained on various aspects of the 41,000 pound HET - 91,400 pounds with the trailer attached. The course culminated in a written test which evaluated how much students learned during the course and their readiness to become fully licensed operators.

While some of the Soldiers attending the training have been in the Army for some time, most of the students are brand-new to the military and to the HET.

Pvt. Kiara Kemp, one of the newly certified heavy wheeled vehicle operators, drove mainly LMTVs (light medium tactical vehicle) during her AIT (advanced individual training).

"You would think driving is just driving, but cruising around in a HET is a completely different animal from the LMTV's we drove during AIT," said Kemp, a native of Anniston, Alabama.

Pvt. 1st Class Kevin Nelson, another newly-minted, heavy-wheeled vehicle operator, also found transitioning to the HET challenging.

"I think the hardest thing to do on a HET is backing up, especially when the trailer is attached. It's like the trailer has a mind of its own," said Nelson.

The recent two-week training differed from previous classes because the number of new Soldiers attending was greater than in previous classes. While the number of new Soldiers was not a problem for Staff Sgt. Shawn Heitzman, the noncommissioned officer in charge of HET driver's training, it did cause him to make adjustments to his class.

"I had to change the course up a little bit because of the number of Soldiers who have come straight out of AIT. With this class I decided to make it more in-depth so the new guys could learn a little more. They got through it without a hitch," said Heitzman.

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Photos and story by 2nd Lt. Sean Chang, 233rd Transportation Company, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) public affairs.

For queries, contact 3d Sustainment Command Public Affairs at: (502) 624-8601.

For high-resolution photos and stories by the 3d Sustainment Command, please contact the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System by calling (678) 421-6612 or access them online at http://www.dvidshub.net/units/3sce.

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