FORT STORY, Va. –
Soldiers from the 7th Sustainment Brigade joined forces with the Navy Aug. 13 through 24, to conduct a Joint Logistics Over the Shore exercise at Fort Story, Va.
JLOTS is an annual exercise conducted around the world, and trains in the process of loading and unloading of ships without the benefit of deep draft-capable, fixed port facilities. These missions are designed for safe environments, but can be conducted in combat. The 'Resolute' brigade's 10th Transportation Battalion, 'Waterborne,' and 11th Transportation Battalion, 'Over the Shore,' teamed with Navy vessels and the Beach Master Unit 2 to conduct the joint training exercise.
"The main goal of this exercise is to test the operational capabilities of both the Army and Navy working together," said Lt. Col. Karl Linderman. "Both Soldiers and Sailors, on the ships and on the beaches, are working together to provide command and control of these vessels as we take vehicles and equipment from the ships to the beach."
The Army-constructed causeway pier was one of five places where vessels could dock and off-load their cargo. Soldiers built the 1,200-foot pier in two days, and then secured it to the beach. Once in place, the pier facilitated movement of more than 300 vehicles and countless pieces of equipment from the sea to land.
"This is our primary mission," said Capt. Christina Shelton, the 331st Transportation Company commander and leader of the Soldiers who constructed the causeway. "We performed this same mission several years ago in Haiti, and did it again this year in Antarctica. We are always prepared to bring equipment ashore."
The 7th Sus. Bde. provided more than 550 Soldiers and 15 Army Vessels, including landing craft mechanized, landing craft utility, logistic support vessels, large tugboats, small tugboats and causeway ferries. These craft moved Army rolling vehicles, including palletized load systems, heavy equipment transporters, Humvees and forklifts.
Army and Navy watercraft docked with the causeway to offload their cargo, regardless of the weather and water conditions. As vessels came in to dock, Army watercraft personnel waited on the pier to safely and quickly secure each vessel.
"The water does not always make securing the vessel the easiest thing in the world," said Pfc. Robert Byrom, 331th Trans. Co. watercraft operator. "The wave hit these ships so hard, and makes them move so much, we have to work really hard to get them secured quickly."
To the left and right of the causeway, Sailors stood in teams on the beaches. They used flags and hand signals to bring vessels to shore quickly and securely. Each watercraft had to be stable on the beach before Army vehicle operators could bring the cargo to shore.
Vehicles coming directly onto the sand faced one final challenge before being moved inland; avoiding getting stuck. Some of the heavier, rear wheeled vehicles got caught in the sand for only a few moments before the 'Resolute' drivers mitigated the situation.
As JLOTS concluded on Aug. 23, the hard work and dedication of more than 1,100 Soldiers and Sailors paid off with the successful movement of every piece of equipment from sea to land. All involved hailed this mission a great success.
"I was very impressed how well the Navy and Army personnel interacted with each other," said Linderman. "We controlled the vessels and got everything to shore, this was a great mission."