An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

Specialized unit, specialized training

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kevin Skindell
  • 174th Infantry Brigade Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The Enduring Mobilization Training Center-Dix, located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, trains a variety of units; however, only a few of those units begin their Culminating Training Event by sailing a 314-foot ship down the Chesapeake Bay.

The 203rd Transportation Company, an Army Reserve unit based in Baltimore, did just that, setting sail Feb. 9 for a 10-hour trek to Fort Eustis, Va. While many may think the Navy owns and operates all our nation's watercraft, the 203rd TC provides crew members and operates the Logistics Support Vehicle Major General Robert Smalls, the largest ship in Army inventory.

"Our mission today is to sail from Baltimore harbor to Fort Eustis, Va. for our units CTE," said Chief Warrant Officer Steven Brown, 203rd TC commander and skipper of the LSV-8 MG Robert Smalls. "This exercise will prepare us for our scheduled deployment to the Persian Gulf, where we will be servicing the entire theater with logistics support."

Lt. Col Daniel McLaughlin, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, First Army Division East operations officer stationed here, heads the planning and resourcing of CTEs for specialized units like the 203rd TC.

"My goal is to ensure that a unit receives training that is both relevant and realistic," said McLaughlin.
Months before mobilized units arrive at JB MDL, McLaughlin and his planning and operations team of First Army trainers evaluates the units' particular mission. Along with the availability of specialized training staff, adequate facilities and necessary equipment, the team determines whether to bring in a Mobile Training Team to JB MDL or to coordinate and conduct an off-site CTE.

"I first try to arrange mission specific training utilizing First Army personnel and resources," said McLaughlin. "I then coordinate with other JB MDL entities if possible."

For example, if a postal operations detachment is scheduled for mobilization training, part of its mission is the loading and unloading mail from aircraft in theater. EMTC-Dix thus coordinates with JB MDL for the unit to receive on-the-job flight line operations and air cargo handling training from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at the McGuire flight line.

Furthermore, when it is feasible to arrange for a specialized MTT to oversee a unit's CTE or mission readiness exercise, McLaughlin and his team opts for that course of action. In order to provide the most relevant mission specific training, the U.S. Army Finance Command, for example, sends MTTs to JB MDL to run the CTE for mobilized finance detachments.

In the 203rd TC's case, it was determined the most realistic training requires coordination with the Surface Deployment Distribution Command and the U.S. Army Transportation School in order to ensure the crew of the MG Robert Smalls had the training set needed to perform their upcoming mission in theater.

The CTE, while off-site, was not without First Army supervision. Sailing alongside the crew was Sgt. 1st. Class Andres Paz, 2nd Battalion, 315th Field Artillery Regiment weapons specialist.

"While at sea, Soldiers will live fire the ship's crew served weapons," Paz said. "I'm here to advise and assist as necessary."

The 203rd TC is scheduled to conclude its CTE by the end of February and will self deploy by sailing the MG Robert Smalls to the Persian Gulf early next month.