FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Soldiers from the 97th Transportation Company, 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, participated in the Pacific Reach 2010 exercise Aug. 22 through Sept. 8 in Japan.
The 21 'Waterborne' Soldiers began their mission at Yokohama North Dock where they assisted with an inventory of Army Materiel Command vessels. They ensured the watercraft were well-stocked and conducted inspections of the vessels to identify maintenance issues. After tending to some minor repairs, the boats were ready to get under way, explained 2nd Lt. Scott Lechner, 97th Trans. Co. platoon leader and the mission officer in charge for Pacific Reach.
"A big part of this mission for our Soldiers was to fall in on these prepositioned vessels and prepare them for mission capability," said Lechner. "It is very important to get these boats out there and running."
Soldiers then loaded the 836th Trans. Bn. equipment onto the vessels and prepared it for shipment. They sailed 60 miles to Ito City to assist the battalion's display of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, said Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Benroth, a 97th Trans. Co. vessel master.
"This exercise gave our Soldiers the opportunity to display the capabilities of Army watercraft," said Lechner.
Distinguished visitors on-site at the exercise included Gen. Yoshifumi Hibako, chief of staff of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force; Lt. Gen. Taiichi Sekiguchi, commanding general of Eastern Army and Brig. Gen. William Crowe, deputy commander of U. S. Forces in Japan.
"Everyone was very impressed with how our Soldiers operated," said Benroth. "They came in and conducted their mission efficiently and professionally. They did a great job."
"Pacific Reach is a yearly disaster relief training exercise. Soldiers from the 7th Sustainment Brigade enjoyed taking part in the exercise and look forward to participating again next year," said Lechner.