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(truck engine roaring)

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- [Ryan] In the US truckers
deliver essential goods

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to people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Here in Poland the 724th
Transportation Company,

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an Army Reserve Unit out
of Bartonville, Illinois,

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was doing the same.

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On the road again April 28th in support

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of the DEFENDER 20 Plus
allied training exercise.

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- Today's mission was to deliver POL

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and other essentials for
maintenance out of the SSA

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of Povost to here.

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And we deliver two flatbeds.

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Whether it be a flatbed missions.

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Whether it be a bulk fuel missions.

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We have to supply
everybody else on outpost

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and that way they can keep
their missions going as well.

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- [Ryan] The mission was also important

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because it served as an
opportunity for the company's

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junior enlisted soldiers to
serve as convoy commander

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for the first time in Poland.

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- Today, I was the convoy Commander.

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Basically, making sure the load is secure.

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Getting contact with every
personnel from each unit.

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Make sure you hit your timelines,

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and make sure everybody's safe.

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- [Ryan] While new soldiers

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took to the wheel
driving flatbed supplies,

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the 724th also has been busy running fuel

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between base camps in Poland.

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On April 29th Specialist
Billy Bean and Justin Bicknell

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took to the road in their
truck, Old Betty Lou,

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to run fuel to the Port in Gdynia

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from Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area.

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- As of right now, we've got 4,750 gallons

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of what we call is DF2
and we're taking that

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to our next destinations.

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Use them to fill up their generators

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and their heaters and whatnot,

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so we could use some of
the life sustainer there.

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So me and Specialist Bicknell,

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we're actually quite a bit alike

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with being kind of from the country.

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We're used to driving these trucks

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and do a really good job so far

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at not getting them stuck.

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- Yeah we pretty much
hit the ground running.

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I enjoy it.

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It's very similar to Illinois
format of driving wise.

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I mean weather and terrain.

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It's always cool to see just

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the different historical facts.

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I think this is quite
a different landmarks.

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The worlds biggest Jesus.

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- [Ryan] In the end,

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the 724th got the supplies
to Drawsko Pomorskie,

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the fuel to the port,

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and some valuable
experience behind the wheel

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for it's junior soldiers.

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- It's also a good training environment

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for younger soldiers, a new generation

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to learn what operating in these things

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in real world scenarios is all about.

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These European roads are a lot smaller

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than American roads, so it's more

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of a challenge on how to
maneuver these vehicles

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on such tight turns, tight roads.

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And that in itself is a challenge.

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If they can drive 'em here,

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they can drive 'em anywhere.

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- [Ryan] From Gardena, Poland,

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I'm U.S. Army Reserve
Master Seargent Ryan Matson