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You Call, We Haul!
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Lt BS Johnson
October 2005
 When I returned to the Regiment after a summer tasking in Gagetown, I was parachuted into the middle of deployment planning for BTE 05 as the new Regimental Transport Officer. There was little time to get to know the troop with the exception of the Troop WO, WO Marshall. Despite last minute changes throwing hitches into planning, the Regiment managed to deploy without any major difficulty. The advance party did some hard work to set up the camp to ensure that the main body could just roll into camp and unroll their sleeping bags.
 Things got rolling slowly but Transport Troop soon became busier as new tasks surfaced. Throughout Ex PHOENIX RAM, Transport Troop provided support to the Regiment, which included attachments from C Coy 3 PPCLI, 14 Fd Sqn 1 CER, and C Bty 1 RCHA. Various tasks included refueling, transferring food stores, camp routine, delivering ammunition and demolitions, and the set up and tear down of training stands. Transport Troop also facilitated several compassionate repatriations to Edmonton and delivered five Iltis for the training stands to be used as technical vehicles during preparatory training.
 The workload was lightened by the addition of a transport platoon from 1 Service Battalion under WO Foers and MCpl MacArthur. This platoon came with four highly coveted SHLVWs (that’s PLS for us non trucker types), two 10 KL diesel tankers, 2 HIABs, and a FAR. The PLSs were instrumental in moving sea containers and wrecked cars in support of stand training and will be crucial for transporting 105mm and TOW ammo during the upcoming gun camps.
During some ‘down time’ the drivers of Transport Troop has even managed to brush up on some driving skills, though, I’m not sure why you would want to jump a Bobcat or do an E-brake turn with an HLVW……. MCpl Noftall had his hands full at the beginning of the exercise showing SSM Dorrance the ins and outs of the Bobcat and G-Wagon. He also supervised the repairs to the flagpole after the Regimental flag mysteriously vanished but was later recovered with some special MP tactics from Sgt Moser, the Regimental Sheriff. In addition to these already important tasks, MCpl Noftall managed to get a crew-commanding task to ferry dismounted safety staff around the range during the Level 5 training.
 While Transport Troop was busy dealing with all the last minute requests and urgent van runs back to Edmonton, we had glitches of our own. E Coy weren’t the only ones with livestock in their lines during the exercise. It seems that there are gremlins in the machines as we found out when it was discovered that a mouse had eaten through the wiring in the dash of one of our TCVs. MCpl Noftall and Cpl McLaughlin were also victims of unfortunate circumstances when they borrowed the Ops O’s crew cab to tow a light trailer that decided to disconnect and punch a hole in the tailgate.
 So far this exercise has been a rollercoaster of activity with last minute requests, routine replenishment, and strange occurrences. With this exercise half over; Transport Troop is looking ahead to make preparations for the redeployment back to Edmonton for Halloween. There is still much to do and new tasks to tackle. Whenever you need something transported, Transport Troop is always ready to deliver.
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