PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Soldiers of the 25th Transportation Company, 25th Sustainment Brigade, assisted the Naval Munitions Command with the transport of ammunition from West Loch Naval Port to the Lualualei Naval Magazine March 1.
The three-week mission is a first for troops, who will transport more than 1,800 pallets of ammo for storage at the site by March 14.
"The mission came down to us last minute but we are always ready to support," said Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Miranda, truck master for the 25th Trans. Co., 25th Sust. Bde. "We transport often within the battalion, but this is our first large mission with multiple types of ammo."
"West Loch Port is very open to the elements so if ammo sits there it can rust or become ineffective," said Maj. Eddie Gray, support operations officer for the 25th Sust. Bde. "What would have taken nine or ten months to move for the Naval Munitions Command, we can help move in three weeks."
The 25th Trans. Co. is utilizing 15 of their own vehicles for the transport. Each vehicle is capable of moving 240 ammo pallets per lift. The company is also partnering with the 225th and 325th Brigade Support Battalions under the 25th Infantry Division to complete the operation as efficiently as possible.
"The faster we can move the ammo from the port to the storage area the better," said Gray. "The ammo is preserved and this offers benefit and cost savings for the Army as well as other branches."
"It's always good for Soldiers to practice cargo loading," said Staff Sgt. Robert Bagley of the 25th Trans. Co., 25th Sust. Bde. "They also get a chance to handle the larger vehicles we have with the driving between each location."
"My Soldiers are working hard to complete this mission and I'm very proud of them," said Miranda. "It's a great training opportunity for us with real world significance."