JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
U. S. Army Soldiers from the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, 833rd Transportation Battalion, 597th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command participated in a three-day exercise in preparation for an upcoming deployment at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, April 25 through 27, 2017.
Upon notification, the 688th RPOE prepares to rapidly deploy to provide the necessary supplies or support in a crisis or contingency operation. The element deploys as part of a joint expeditionary logistics force, providing in-transit visibility, conducting clearance and distribution operations, as well as establishing a forward distribution base camp.
To keep these skills sharp, the Soldiers perform exercises regularly, strengthening their capabilities and adaptability within the field.
“We are training with cargo, but we are also adding various scenarios to make sure the Soldiers know how to handle protestors, or media, or dealing with an attack from our adversaries,” said U.S. Army Capt. Justin Rhodes, 688th RPOE detachment commander. “I think the training is paying huge dividends, making us a better organization and ensuring we can better execute the mission.”
Based on real-world operations, the exercise required Soldiers to load large bundles of cargo onto a truck and transport them to a forward distribution base. The exercise lasted around-the clock with Soldiers sleeping and eating at the training location.
For some of the Soldiers, these exercises are their first real exposure to their field of work and can be valuable to their overall understanding of the mission at hand.
“Since this is my very first exercise, it has been beneficial to me because all I have done is talk through the movements with my team,” said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Ben Bunch, 688th RPOE clearance platoon leader. “Being able to come out here and see all of the Soldiers doing their jobs and how the cargo is actually moving in the yard allows me to be able to develop a perspective for future operations.”
Along with building the necessary skills to execute the mission, Bunch said the exercise brought the Soldiers together and built morale within the organization, even with the tough terrain and unforgiving weather.
Through the shared hardship, Rhodes noted the Soldiers gained a better understanding of each other and their mission generating a tighter organization increasing the unit’s capabilities.
To better explain the 688th RPOE’s general mission and the purpose of training for rapid movement, Rhodes compared their charge to a more relatable incident to many service members, saying, “if something happened to your home, you would expect someone to help you. We provide that type of support to other countries and people in need.”
From Haiti to Cuba, Africa to the Philippines, the 688th RPOE are the first responders when disasters hit, working together to ensure our nation’s partners receive the aid they need to get back on their feet.