406th HR Co. conducts training in Grafenwöhr

Story and photos by Sgt. Daniel J. Friedberg
221st Public Affairs Detachment, 7th Civil Support Command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command
Pfc. Andrew J. Smith (center) and Spc. Douglas K. Piper (front), both from 1st Platoon, 406th Human Resources Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command, make elevation adjustments to the MK19 grenade launcher while Staff Sgt. Travis J. Helms (rear) ensures safe-range operations during qualification in a field exercise April 20  at Grafenwöhr Training Area. The exercise emphasized convoy operations, weapons qualification, unit cohesion and Soldier fitness.
Pfc. Andrew J. Smith (center) and Spc. Douglas K. Piper (front), both from 1st Platoon, 406th Human Resources Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command, make elevation adjustments to the MK19 grenade launcher while Staff Sgt. Travis J. Helms (rear) ensures safe-range operations during qualification in a field exercise April 20 at Grafenwöhr Training Area. The exercise emphasized convoy operations, weapons qualification, unit cohesion and Soldier fitness.

GRAFENWÖHR TRAINING AREA, Germany — Rocked by the sonic roar of jet fighters training overhead, a 29-vehicle convoy from the 406th Human Resources Company rumbled into the Grafenwöhr Training Area during a four-day training exercise April 18 to 21.

The 406th HR Co. is part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command, which is the only Army Reserve command stationed outside the continental U.S.

“The purpose of this exercise was to get the Soldiers trained to use vehicles in preparation of deployment,” said Staff Sgt. Jorge Tonge, platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, 406th HR Co. “It was a great idea.”

The exercise also served as a way to build unit cohesion, he added.

The majority of the Soldiers spent the second day qualifying on the weapons range. The third day was devoted to the M203 grenade launcher and the MK 19 grenade launcher.

 Staff Sgt. Jorge Tonge (center), platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, 406th Human Resources Co., 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command, reviews convoy safety procedures with his leadership team before moving out to the rifle range April 19.
Staff Sgt. Jorge Tonge (center), platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, 406th Human Resources Co., 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command, reviews convoy safety procedures with his leadership team before moving out to the rifle range April 19.

Soldiers of the 406th HR Co. also conducted classes on the qualification range in the evenings or during break periods. Subjects included Soldier reserve health benefits, sexual harassment and rape prevention, physical fitness testing and drug abuse training.

Every evening during the training exercise, the Soldiers of the 406th HR Co. conducted after action reviews to improve on essentials, like convoy interval maintenance, key control, better storage and inventory of the many weapon systems they had trained with.

Maj. Francis Suyak, company commander, 406th HR Co., said that the nightly unit AARs were very valuable to improve training and range operations.