No Slack soldiers certify to drive to survive

Written by Sgt. Richard Daniels Jr.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Afghanistan – It’s no secret that the roads in Afghanistan and Iraq are some of the most dangerous in the world, but No Slack soldiers train to drive their tactical vehicles in preparation November 17th, outside their battalion here.

Nearly 20 soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, finished their drivers’ certification this week on the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement and the MaxxPro Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

The training served to certify new soldiers within the unit and experienced veterans on various tasks and skills essential to maintaining these vehicles and to survive the treacherous roads of foreign lands, but first they had to attend the classroom portion of the course.

“They came in on Tuesday morning, did the classroom as far as controls and indicators classes on both the MaxxPro and M-ATV, [preventative maintenance checks and services on both vehicles], and we did a convoy operations class and a winter driving,” said Staff Sgt. Horace Bullock Jr., a squad leader with Company D, 2-327th In. Bn. “It’s just like an overview. We have to do that anytime the weather changes… It’s like a weather dependent class.”

After a long day of lectures and hands-on training, the next day the soldiers got their chance to take the vehicles out for a ride.

“Then we started day driving on Wednesday, rotated through,” said Bullock. “Got on a little bit of uneven terrain, some curves and what not, a lot of stops, left turns right turns; just enough to kind of get them use to the vehicle. [We are] getting ready to take off tonight and some night driving as pretty much the end of the advanced portion of the class.”

Bullock continued to explain why night training is essential for Infantrymen.

“Hey! We own the night. When it comes to patrols and everything – yeah, we do our day patrols – at night is when we actually catch people doing stuff.”

Since their deployment back in 2009-2010, the MRAP training has not been the same. At first, civilians trained soldiers on the specifications and limitations of the vehicles but now soldiers have a new set of trainers.

“I did the training before we deployed this last deployment to Afghanistan. I mean I have been in these vehicles a couple of times but not extensively as it was this last deployment. I was actually able to grab guys that actually drove the vehicles the whole deployment.”

Veteran soldiers showed the class proper PMCS procedures, what often breaks on the vehicles, gadgets and shared their past experiences while instructing the students.

“It’s just like driving a car,” said Pvt. Blake Salvey, a squad automatic weapon gunner with Company D, 2-327th In. Bn. “You got to get use to driving this vehicle as well.”

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