FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
Regional Training Site Maintenance – Fort Indiantown Gap partnered with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, N.Y., to ensure 16 active-duty Soldiers received the wheeled recovery specialist H8 additional skill identifier (ASI) from Nov. 29 to Dec. 15, 2023.
Out of 17 sites that provide wheeled recovery training, to include active duty, Reserve and National Guard training locations, RTSM-FTIG was chosen to support 10th Mountains Soldiers' needs for this ASI.
RTSM-FTIG falls under the U.S. Army Reserve's 94th Training Division.
10th Mountain and RTSM-FTIG utilized the Training Requirements Arbitration Panel (TRAP) program, which allows training sites the flexibility to conduct un-forecasted trainings to fulfill the Army Training and Doctrine Command requirements.
“Chief Benjamin Hinkle, RTSM-FTIG's support maintenance technician, was in a course with a Soldier from 10th Mountain and through that relationship they knew our capabilities and the quality of training the Soldiers would receive at our schoolhouse,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Hoover, commandant of RTSM-FIG.
“You can feel the energy and comradery in the building from this class because they all know each other, they are all from the same location, so they are bringing a higher level of teamwork and motivation to the class,” Hoover said.
Spc. Ricardo Rios of the 10th Mountain Division said it was refreshing that the instructors put the same level of quality and expertise into every class they have.
“One of my battle buddies attended this course a year ago, and I was able to receive the exact same treatment and knowledge that he described to me from his experience here," Rios said.
Rios found attending H8 with other Soldiers likely working on the same wrecker team as him beneficial.
“It is very informational,” Rios said. “It gives me the opportunity to see how they interpret information and how they handle the equipment. I now know how they communicate and will be able to maneuver accordingly to get the mission done.”
While at the course, Rios didn’t just learn an ASI; He said he also learned how to be a better leader.
“When I got here, I had prior wrecker experience, so I would try to do everything to get it done," Rios said. "The instructors would pull me out of situations so I could step back, watch the other students, and assist them where they were struggling. It allowed them to learn the equipment and let me learn how to lead my Soldiers through a problem they may face.”
“I definitely recommend mechanics attend H8 here, the instructors treat you like people, they are very approachable, and they go out of their way to make sure you learn skills you would need throughout your career,” Rios added.