One of the most important specialties in the army is considered to be a driver of military equipment. This person is a real universal soldier who performs many tasks, trains on an equal basis with other military personnel and undergoes additional training. As a result, he becomes a real professional in his field, prepared to operate military equipment in the most challenging conditions. In our article, we will consider the key tasks of drivers in the army and tell you how their training takes place.
What tasks do drivers perform in the army?
Army drivers are actual universal soldiers whose duties include various tasks of varying complexity. By performing each task, representatives of this military specialty support most units and help them achieve their goals.
The main task of drivers in the army is to operate various types of military equipment. Unlike driving regular vehicles that civilians buy in car dealerships and car auctions, like car auctions in CT, driving military vehicles is a much more complex task. In it, drivers need not only to turn the steering wheel and change gears but also to use navigation equipment actively and maintain constant communication with the command to coordinate actions and receive orders.
In addition to driving, army drivers are responsible for maintaining military equipment. This includes regularly checking the efficiency of various vehicle components to identify existing or potential problems. The duty also includes performing small-scale repairs or preparing heavily damaged vehicles for transfer to maintenance units.
Another essential task of army drivers is to control the transportation of various military cargo. This means that the person driving the military transport must ensure the cargo is securely fastened, properly balanced, and prepared for subsequent unloading. In cases where soldiers or civilians are being transported or evacuated from a combat zone, drivers must ensure the safety of these people and choose the correct route.
When military equipment is used during an army operation, drivers must precisely follow the actions specified by the command. Their job sometimes involves evacuating soldiers or broken/damaged vehicles from the combat zone. A safer but no less critical job for drivers is maintaining various documentation related to the operation and maintenance of military equipment.
The process of training and education of drivers
Training and coaching an army driver is a comprehensive program that provides the opportunity to obtain the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills in driving military equipment. It consists of several basic stages, each involving certain activities.
Preparatory activities
Several preparatory activities are carried out before army drivers begin to be trained and coached. These include checking the servicemen for compliance with physical and mental requirements. Soldiers of any other military specialties are tested in the same way. The check consists of a special medical examination. Various health problems that can interfere with a driver’s work (for example, poor eyesight) can be identified during this event.
All servicemen who want to act as a driver in the army must have a stable psyche. It is necessary so that when performing various tasks, a soldier can make the right decisions even in the most challenging situations. There are many ways to assess a person’s mental and emotional state. All of them are used in certain situations and help select servicemen ideally suited to work as a driver.
Theoretical training
This is a key stage of driver training in the army. It allows everyone to obtain the necessary knowledge to operate various military equipment efficiently and safely in the future. During theoretical classes, military personnel are taught the basics of operating key vehicle systems, which provides valuable information for drivers when performing various tasks.
The theoretical part of the training also includes studying the basic principles of maintenance of military vehicles. This knowledge will help drivers quickly eliminate minor problems and promptly carry out various manipulations necessary for the normal functioning of military equipment. In most cases, the theoretical stage of driver training is supplemented by studying safety rules regarding the management and operation of various vehicles.
Practical training
Theory is always followed by practice, and the military training process in the army is no exception. Practical training aims to provide servicemen with basic skills in driving various military vehicles. Depending on the situation, classes can be held on unique simulators or in actual conditions. Both options have advantages, so they are often combined to achieve greater training efficiency.
After drivers have received basic driving skills, they are adapted to the ability to drive a specific type of military equipment. In this case, the serviceman gets more detailed information about a particular vehicle and learns to drive in various environmental conditions. This stage of training also includes practical classes on the repair and maintenance of military equipment of a specific type.
Licensing of drivers
The licensing process is also an essential stage of driver training in the army. It involves checking each serviceman’s theoretical knowledge and practical skills and assessing the quality of their training. Licensing consists of two stages. In the first stage, soldiers who want to become drivers take a written exam. This exam is often conducted as a test, and servicemen are asked questions with a single correct answer. All questions touch on the structure of military equipment, its operation, repair and maintenance, and driving safety.
The second stage of licensing involves passing a practical exam. During this time, a special commission evaluates the driver’s ability to drive a vehicle in various situations. The ability to quickly eliminate emerging problems and continue to perform assigned tasks is also checked. If both stages of licensing are passed successfully, the serviceman receives a military driver’s license.
Practicing driving skills
Those who have obtained a military driver’s license move on to the next stage of training. It involves drivers practicing special driving skills needed when performing various tasks. The most important of these for a driver in the army is the ability to drive quickly off-road and in rugged terrain. This aspect receives the most excellent attention and maximum training hours.
An essential skill for a driver in the army is tactically correct driving. To do this, servicemen train to drive in columns, accurately choose routes, avoid various natural and artificial obstacles, and much more. In parallel with this, they are taught to respond to orders from the command correctly and not turn a trip on military transport into chaotic movement in unfamiliar terrain.
Additional training
In cases where drivers are being prepared for a specific mission, they are offered additional training and another stage of training. This is necessary to obtain unique skills and driving experience that will be needed to perform the stated range of tasks. Additional training often includes training in driving unique military equipment that operates differently from other military vehicles.
Additional training is also part of the annual driver training program. This event includes theoretical and practical classes, during which servicemen study various innovations and try out the implemented technologies. Such training allows drivers to improve and become even more versatile soldiers constantly.
A soldier’s driver is always an important person. He performs many tasks that help soldiers of various units do their jobs effectively. Driver training and education are complex processes. However, after they are completed, a serviceman becomes a real professional who can drive various military equipment even in extreme conditions.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.
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