FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The weather couldn't be better as clear skies and warm temperature provided the ideal backdrop for the 'Sea Dogs' of the 1098th Transportation Detachment, 24th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, as they sailed from Virginia Beach to Fort Eustis' 3rd Port April 15.
Using Landing Craft Mechanized vessels, the sailors delivered two Kalmar Rough Terrain Container Handlers (pronounced 'wretch') assigned to the brigade's 11th Transportation Battalion, located at Joint Base Expeditionary Little Creek-Fort Story to the port.
"Using watercraft assets for this move proved cost effective and time efficient," said Chief Warrant Officer Isaiah Smith of the brigade's marine operations office. "Using equipment organic to the unit allowed for the successful transfer of equipment from Fort Story to JBLE [Joint Base Langley-Eustis.] This transfer resulted in critical cost savings for our brigade during a time of budget constraints across the Department of Defense."
Once in port the LCMs are maneuvered into place at welding slip. This is where the LCM's ramp is dropped onto the ground at water's edge. Once the ramp is securely in place the Kalmar is driven off the vessel and into a parking area located not more than 200 yards away. Sailors use hand and vocal signals to assist the vessel's coxswain in guiding the watercraft into place.
"I've been in this unit for over two years and today's mission was the most successful I've seen," said Staff Sgt. Edward Gonzales, Headquarters platoon sergeant, 1098th Trans. Det., 24th Trans. Bn. Sergeant Gonzales, who had been on site at the slip, provided ground guide assistance to the Kalmar drivers. "There was not a single hiccup in today's mission, everything ran smoothly."