OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Seven Soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve’s 561st Regional Support Group completed a cargo preparation course at Offutt Air Force Base’s Installation Deployment Readiness Cell Jan. 29, 2018.
Soldiers learned the details of effective and safe pallet building for air shipments from Master Sgt. Chad Stoulil, 55th Logistics Readiness Squadron Small Air Terminal superintendent. This training expanded their skills and prepared the reservists for joint operations in deployed environments, where they perform a wide array of duties with a focus on transportation.
“My civilian career involves working with cross-functional teams in manufacturing,” said Sgt. Kevin Rooney, 561st RSG motor transport operator. “I know the value in learning what other teams can do, and implementing their best practices into what we do. The military is no different. With that being said, I find it very important to work with other branches of the military, especially the Air Force. Learning more about what the Air Force does will improve our overall capability to work with them and complete our mission in the best way possible.”
During the training, the Soldiers gained knowledge and skill in palletization, weighing, working with rolling stock, ways to protect and secure stock and the hazards to be aware of while working with aircraft cargo. Partnerships are built and strengthened through joint service training such as this and can lead to a stronger total force.
The 55th “LRS has recently benefitted from building relationships with local reserve units,” Stoulil said. “Our Ground Transportation section was able to borrow M-Series vehicles from a reserve unit for required training and this is a sense is returning the favor to another guarunit and them being able to benefit from something we are highly knowledgeable about.”
In addition to strengthening inter-service bonds, Offutt AFB has participated in a growing initiative to prepare service members with deployment-focused training.
“In short, every Airman has been training to ensure they will be ready at any time,” Stoulil said. “This [cargo preparation] training, along with other training we as the LRS and the wing have been doing, aligns with the chief of staff of the Air Force’s top priorities, in this case by restoring readiness and strengthening alliances.”