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U.S., Bulgarian troops train in Immediate Response

By Pfc. Tanya C. Polk
July 14, 2005

NOVO SELO, Bulgaria (Army News Service, July 15, 2005 -- “This is the first part of the exercise; It all starts today!” exclaimed Command Sgt. Maj. David S. Davenport of 1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment.

Exercise Immediate Response 2005 was put together to build relationships among the U.S. and Bulgarian Army. Troops from both forces are engaging in combat training together at the Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, through July 23.

The well-anticipated “Bandits” arrived ready to train the evening of July 10. On July 11, their first mission began.

A host of wheeled vehicles -- to include two M1-A1Abrahms main battle tanks, two Bradley armored fighting vehicles and an M-88 recovery vehicle -- arrived at Zimnista Train Station, Bulgaria, after a four-day railhead journey from Büdingen, Germany.

While railhead operations were nothing new for the cavalrymen, the operation in Bulgaria differed from the norm, said Capt. Steven Banks, Bandit Troop commander.

“The biggest difference here was that we used a new portable ramp to download. It was actually a French design,” said Banks. “It worked pretty good for us today.”

Before downloading any vehicles, Banks briefed his troopers on all safety precautions.

“The most important thing on the railhead is keeping control of their vehicles,” said Banks. “The most important piece of safety for that is ground guides. We make sure that all our guides use proper hand and arm signals throughout the movement while we’re on the railhead. And that the drivers all know to follow the instructions from the ground guides.”

Ground guides are Soldiers designated to supply directional assistance to the driver and ensure a safe offloading.

“We made sure that the tanks stay straight on the rail car and that everything is in tact,” said Spc. Chris White, a ground guide with the Bandit troop.

White said his biggest fear was someone getting hurt.

“I didn’t want someone to make a turn a little bit too tight and go off the rail car,” he said.

Just because ground guides are responsible for directing the vehicle does not mean the driver has no safety responsibilities, he said.

“It’s a little more dangerous here because there are a lot more railcars and a lot more trains going through,” said Pfc. Dewey James Gordon IV, the driver of the first offloaded Bradley in the railhead mission. “When I was going down the ramp, I actually wasn’t allowed to use my brakes at all because it might make the ramp move or throw it off.”

Spc. Shawn Sanders, a new M1A1 driver, said there are many difficulties to overcome when offloading military vehicles.

“When you get to the bottom, you can’t see the ground guide.

You don’t know what signal he’s giving you,” said Sanders.

Sanders said he hopes to get driving experience throughout this exercise.

The Bulgarian military police assisted the Bandits with their railhead operation. They readjusted and checked the ramp after each vehicle offloaded and provided additional safety and security.

“Everything that we needed, they’ve been more than happy to help us out with, so it’s been a good experience so far,” said Banks.

Not only did the Bulgarian MPs provide assistance, but 1st Armored Division’s 127th Aviation Support Battalion helped the bandits as well.

Soldiers of 127th were responsible for transporting a forklift and ensured vehicles had ample fuel before departing the train station.

“Anything that can’t wheel its own requires a ‘low boy’ (trailer),” said Staff Sgt. Max T. Jones, 127th ASB.

The low boy was used to transport the Calvary’s forklift to their training site.

“We deal with anything that has to do with logistical support, whether its fuel or recovery service,” said Sgt. 1st Class James Montague, maintenance noncommissioned officer in charge.

“They have the machinery, but without the fuel and all the things that make the car go, the car can’t go,” he said.

After safely offloading and fueling the vehicles and providing all additional maintenance, the Bandits’ fighting machines and crews were off to the training site to train alongside the Bulgarian counterparts.

“Now, we get to see how it is working with another country. We get to see how they operate compared to us, and learn from them and they can learn from us as well,” said Gordon. “It’s awesome.”