FORT CARSON, Colo. —Soldiers from two different movement control teams under 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, provide cargo documentation and equipment inspection support March 23, 2021, for the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. The Soldiers worked with the installation transportation office, the Division G4 and 3rd ABCT’s mobility section. (Photo by Capt. August McCarthy)
By Capt. August McCarthy
G4 transportation planner, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Since July 2020, through rain, sun, snow and sub-freezing temperature, the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, has been preparing for its National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, California, rotation this spring. The units have executed training to certify their skills and become experts in their field. However, the last test before they depart for NTC will be how well the equipment is loaded for transport.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Cpl. Haydn Basher from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, tops off his M1 Abrams tank with fuel before an inspection by the movement control team March 22, 2021, at Fort Carson in preparation for movement to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. (Photo by Capt. August McCarthy)
The brigade sent almost 350 pieces by line haul using commercial trucks, and used Union Pacific Railroad for the remaining equipment. Personnel will fly to NTC in waves primarily by commercial air, and arrive in time to download and stage the equipment for their training rotation.
Most Soldiers in the brigade are familiar with deployment operations; they have seen multiple deployments, NTC rotations and training events off-post all in the last five years.
As part of Army Forces Command Regulation 55-1, a specific number or percentage of leaders in every company and battalion are required to be trained on specific areas of deployment readiness. These duties include being a unit movement officer, hazardous materials certifier and being trained on air and rail load operations. The air and rail load training means Soldiers are familiar with and have practice on how to prepare their equipment for shipment, whether that be to another state or overseas.
In an effort to improve this rotations’ deployment, the division G4 transportation section developed some concepts used by other installations. Transportation Inspection Point and Scales (TIPS) is a system used by other installations but not done at Fort Carson, and the G4 wants to change that.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division work alongside civilian contractors to ensure vehicles are loaded properly and safely during railhead operations March 23, 2021, at Fort Carson. The safety of personnel and the security of all brigade equipment is vital to mission success as 3rd ABCT heads to the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. (Photo by 1st Lt. Tobias Cukale)
“We wanted the brigade to utilize TIPS as a proof of concept for Fort Carson,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Smith, mobility technician, 4th Inf. Div. “This process can improve the deployment efficiency and speed when attempting to deploy a brigade combat team in an expeditious manner. Months ago, we started coordination with the 4th Sustainment Brigade (4th Inf. Div.) to employ their movement control teams at the TIPS site, which is part of their organic mission. Between (division) and the unit, we’ve put a lot of effort into planning this and we think it has a lot of potential.”
The system has been a good addition thus far, said 1st Lt. Marvin Burns, 152nd Movement Control Team, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th SB. Burns was part of a team that conducted inspections at the TIPS site.
“It has given units the standard for rail and line haul and the opportunity to fix deficiencies before going down to the rail yard,” Burns added.
They completed a task uncommon for an armored brigade: attempting to load multiple trains per day. Using shifts, Soldiers worked at all hours across the installation, moving equipment from one station to another until loaded and tied down to the rail cars or onto a commercial truck. The purpose was to prove the unit had the capability to rapidly deploy and meet certain time expectations set by Surface Deployment and Distribution Command and U.S. Army Forces Command.
The brigade will head to Fort Irwin and have a few days to prepare before training begins in the 1,000-square-mile section of the Mojave Desert. The environment may not have as much snow as Colorado, but the mission will remain the same.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Jeff Beeson an installation transportation officer with 407th Army Field Support Battalion, gives Sgt. Pascal Bartilow with 152nd Movement Control Team, guidance on proper tie-down procedures for secondary loads March 19, 2021, at Transportation Inspection Point and Scales. (Photo by Capt. August McCarthy)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Below: Pfc. Karla Sanchez with 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, attaches a packing slip to her M1075 Palletized Load System truck March 19, 2021, before getting inspected at Transportation Inspection Point and Scales. (Photo by Capt. August McCarthy)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — An M88 Heavy Recovery vehicle from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, drives onto a rail car March 23, 2021, before being tied down at Fort Carson in preparation for movement to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. (Photo by Capt. August McCarthy)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Soldier guides an M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle safely onto a train during National Training Center pre-deployment railhead operations March 23, 2021, at Fort Carson. Soldiers worked alongside civilian contractors during rail operations in order to ensure personnel are safe and equipment is secured properly for travel to Fort Irwin, California. The safety of personnel and the security of the brigade equipment is vital to mission success. This rotation will test the brigade’s combat readiness to its fullest extent and the fighting fitness of every Soldier and vehicle is critical. (Photo by 1st Lt. Tobias Cukale)