Story by Wayne Cook
January 12, 2010
Fort Dix, N.J. – The 304th Transportation Company out of Springfield, Mass., is undergoing final training at Army Support Activity-Dix, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst prior to deploying to Kuwait and Iraq in support of the drawdown of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The medium truck company is comprised of approximately 170 Reserve Soldiers from New Hampshire to West Virginia. The truckers and support staff will conduct missions between Kuwait and Iraq, transporting vehicles, equipment and supplies.
Spc. Cynthia Shankin, a truck driver from Philadelphia, joined the Army Reserve after talking to a lot of her friends who belong to the 56th Stryker Brigade in Pennsylvania. Both of her grandfathers served in the military and also had an influence on her decision to serve. She is anxious but confident about deploying to a war zone, knowing there are many Soldiers in the unit who have served on multiple deployments.
"The training here at Dix keeps us busy – we're constantly moving, going through the paces of pre-deployment. The hands-on instruction has been very helpful," she said.
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| Sgt. Jeremy Healy fires the M-2 .50 caliber machine gun during weapons familiarization training (photo by Ryan Morton) |
Another Philadelphian deploying with the 304th TC is Sgt. Rebecca Daum, a truck driver going on her second deployment to Iraq.
"As a female truck driver in Iraq, the Iraqis didn't want to talk to me directly. They didn't like female gunners. I enjoyed the mission, though. This time around is a very different situation. We are in the nation-building phase now versus the combat phase.
"The pre-mob training this time around is more applicable to the mission at hand because the trainers have up-to-date experience. The equipment is also much better this time around. The vehicles are better armored and we have IED fighting equipment. I feel much more protected this time," Daum said.
Daum joined the Army Reserve while still a junior in high school. She wanted to go to college and also wanted to do something different. The Army seemed the way to go.
Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Heatley, from Plymouth Meeting, Pa., is a platoon sergeant with the 304th. With 20 years in the Army, 11 of them in Active component, Heatley is on his fourth deployment; his first, in support of Desert Storm and three now supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Heatley said the reason he continues to serve is because he is trying to protect and build a future for his family. He enjoys the military and believes in supporting his country and keeping it safe. He has two teenagers, 17 and 18 years-old; who he hopes doesn't have to serve in a hostile environment because he chooses to do so now.
Another of the more experienced Soldiers in the company is Sgt. Marcus Greene from Springfield, Mass. Greene is on his fifth deployment having started his military career in the Marines and then moving over to the Army Reserve. This Job Corps teacher and mall security supervisor likes to use his vast experience to train the younger, less experienced Soldiers.
"I've seen a lot and I want to make sure my Soldiers are as prepared as possible. Many of them are fresh out of Advanced Individual Training and have never faced a hostile environment. My goal is to make the best Soldiers out them that I can so we all come home when the mission is finished," he said.
The men and women of the 304th TC are taking full advantage of the training provided at ASA-Dix. They are doing all they can to ensure the training is profitable to the unit and once utilized in theater, they will have a successful and safe mission.
