224th Sustainment Brigade
By 2nd Lt. Thomas McKay
08.30.2010 CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq— Since arriving here in May, soldiers with the 632nd Maintenance Company, 110th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), have completed hundreds of maintenance work orders and performed duties ranging from guarding entry control points, to staffing the dining facility. Now they are preparing for a new mission: convoy operations.
During the months of July and August, they have been brushing up on their convoy skills. As Operation Iraqi Freedom comes to a close and Operation New Dawn begins, soldiers with the 632nd Maint. Company must be prepared to take on whatever is thrown their way, including the missions of units that are exiting theater.
“We’ve got to be prepared,” said 1st Lt. James Schafer, convoy operations officer-in-charge and electronic equipment maintenance platoon leader with the 632nd Maint. Company, and a Dardanelle, Ark., native. “While we haven’t received any missions yet, we know we may have to perform any number of different duties.”
Soldiers from each of the company’s platoons were brought together to form the convoy team. Twice a week, the team meets to train for convoy operations. Their training includes both classroom portions and hands-on time with the equipment--the Caiman series of mine resistant ambush protected vehicle in particular.
“Most of us have never worked with the MRAPs before,” said Pfc. Kelvin Sanchez, convoy team member with the 632nd Maint. Company, and a Dominican Republic native. “Getting to train on new equipment is always exciting, especially when I might get to use it on actual missions.”
Schafer is not taking any chances. He uses detailed computer presentations and carefully planned exercises in order to maximize training time. The end result, he hopes, will be a team that is ready, willing and able to execute any missions that come their way.
“We won’t really know if the training has paid off until we get out on the road, but I’m confident in our guys,” Schafer said.
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