Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world.

From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron put their lives on the line every day for the mission.

More than 300 Airmen are assigned to either the 70th or 424th Medium Truck Detachments. They deliver critical resupply items daily to forward deployed troops. Since January 2005, transporters have driven more than 5.8 million miles in Iraq.

"I have an incredible amount of respect for what our troops do," said Lt. Col. Jeanne Hardrath, 586th ELRS commander, who is deployed from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. "They're highly motivated and take great pride in what they do everyday."

Airmen arrived here for their six-month rotation after attending a combat skills training course at Camp Bullis, Texas, which included live-fire training at Fort Hood, Texas, and a validation course at Fort Sill, Okla. The two months of training, although long and physically demanding, was necessary. There they learned the skills they would need to accomplish the mission under the Army leadership.

"The training was very intense and hard," said Tech. Sgt. Greg Ryan, a convoy commander with the 424th MTD, who is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "To go through something that ... was like basic training all over again. But it was very important."

The courses not only gave these Airmen invaluable training, it also helped them build a bond with each other. By the time they hit the area of responsibility, they were a tightly knit unit. This is key because at some point they will have to rely on one another in a combat situation.

"Our lives depend on each other out here," said Amn. Kyle Young, a vehicle operator with the 70th MTD, who is deployed from Fairchild AFB, Wash. "We're like a big family. When you're out on the road for weeks with each other, we'll have little feuds and stuff, but it's just tough love. We'd do anything for each other."

Convoy missions are not like your typical family road trips. They take days to plan, hours to load and weeks to complete. A short mission can last anywhere from one to two weeks while a long mission can take three weeks.

The person ultimately responsible for getting the supplies to their destination is the convoy commander, which is typically a master or technical sergeant. Not only is he or she charged with getting cargo down range, but they are also responsible for the lives of more than 50 people.

"When you think about a convoy commander ... they have an awesome amount of responsibility," said Chief Master Sgt. Tony Killion, detachment chief for the 70th MTD, also deployed from Scott AFB. "They're responsible for the lives of about 15 crew members, another 30 civilian truck drivers and the gun trucks' crews."

A typical set-up for a convoy is what Airmen here call a "five and two." This includes seven up-armored, heavy-duty, long-haul trucks spread out among the civilian tractor-trailers. Two of the vehicles, known as "bobtails," bookend the convoy. 

"I make sure the convoy stays intact and that everything is going smoothly," said Tech. Sgt. Rob Wilson, an assistant convoy commander with the 424th MTD deployed from Scott AFB.

Airmen and their convoys travel 12 to 20 hours a day.  Keeping these trucks running smoothly on austere road conditions require dedicated maintenance troops to provide upkeep on the vehicles and every convoy that goes outside the wire includes one dedicated maintainer.

"Keeping these vehicles in working order can be pretty tough," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Kessler, a vehicle maintenance troop with the 424th MTD, who is deployed from Sembach Air Base, Germany. "We don't typically work on these types of trucks back home because they're Army vehicles, so we got some hands-on training when we first get here. We run them pretty hard, but we do the best we can."

Both detachments drive their convoys at night to offset the desert heat and minimize the dangers on the road.

"An attack is always in the back of my mind," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Lyke, a convoy commander with the 70th MTD, who is deployed from Kirtland AFB, N.M. "But my guys would rather be out there on the road doing the mission instead of here waiting for one."

In addition to keeping 30-plus vehicles together and safe on a 500-mile convoy, Airmen also find it a challenge to get quality sleep. 

"The tents at the (forward operating bases) are old and incredibly hot during the day," said Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Malenic, detachment chief for 424th MTD, who is deployed from Eielson AFB, Alaska. "After a long night on the road you just want to catch some sleep, but the heat is almost unbearable."

Recently, the Army and Air Force started a joint project to improve the worst of these forward locations for the convoys. They're currently sourcing and relocating new tents, air conditioning units and mattresses.

After two years of performing convoy missions the two services have gained a mutual respect for each other's role.

"(The Air Force is) proud to do the mission, and they should be because they do a great job," said Army Lt. Col. Bill Thewes, Joint Logistics Task Force 57 commander, who has tactical control of the 586th ELRS. "Our overall objective is to make them feel like they're part of our team and to make sure they have everything they need to do the job."