Deployed trans troops keep Manas moving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Giana Jaworski
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Krygyzstan --  When it comes to ground transportation requirements in a deployed environment, there are a multitude of tasks assigned to the vehicle operations unit. 

"We don't just drive, we make the mission happen," said Tech. Sgt. Dennis Beesley, 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operator. "If it doesn't get there, then the mission can't happen." 

Manas vehicle operations consists of military and host-nation drivers that provide 24-hour coverage seven days a week. 

"When we come in we are put on stand-by," said Senior Airman Danielle Hardy 376th ELRS Vehicle Operator. "They call us and we go wherever we are needed to go."
Their daily tasks include cargo delivery, transient and permanent party baggage (both inbound and outbound), wrecker service, distinguished visitor transportation, base shuttle, and transportation for off-base requests. 

"In one way or another, vehicle operations has a hand in almost every aspect of the base mission," said Master Sgt. Dirk Danielson, 376th ELRS Vehicle Operations Superintendent. 

Another responsibility of the unit is the management of the wing's U-Drive It fleet. This fleet consists of vehicles that are loaned out to units on base that don't have a mission essential need to have their own vehicle. 

"We control the usage of the fleet vehicles and maintain them, allowing other units to have a vehicle if they need it," said Sergeant Danielson. 

To add to their list of duties, they also schedule the host nation drivers for shuttles to and from the TCA to the Ops side, and for morale trips or official trips off-base. 

"The main difference in the mission here from the one back home is the off base travel requirement," said Sergeant Danielson. "Scheduling everything with host nation drivers can be a challenge, but our interpreter, Nickolai Avdosev, is a huge asset to this team."
Training Manas personnel is also a task that the vehicle operations unit provides.
"We provide specialized vehicle training to wing personnel on an as-available basis," said Sergeant Danielson. 

"The unique thing about being deployed is being able to use the variety of vehicles," said Sergeant Beesley. "At home station we usually get to use maybe one or two vehicles."
"We have approximately 13 different types of vehicles here," said Sergeant Danielson.
"We have the opportunity to accomplish training in our field that we cannot get at our home station to qualify us and get to do the job we are trained for," said Technical Sgt. Daniel Hayes, 376th ELRS Vehicle Operator. 

Because of the wide variety of missions involved for vehicle ops in a deployed environment, the unit has come together to get the mission done. 

"This is hands down the best all around team I have even been associated with," said Sergeant Danielson.