NATC-A troops conduct M-ATV training Published Dec. 17, 2010 By MC2 Vladimir Potapenko 438th AEW PA Kabul, Afghanistan -- Service members from the 438th Air Expeditionary WIng and 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron completed Basic MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) Operators Course training this week at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan. Covering vehicle characteristics, driving operations, emergency egress, vehicle self-recovery, night driving and operator level troubleshooting and maintanence, the course is designed as a requirement for those who operate M-ATVs. The training allows service members to be better prepared for their commitments with convoy operations, convoy training, logistics supply transports, vehicl maintanence, and joint patrols with the Belgian Army and Afghan Security Forces, said Tech. Sgt. Russell Raymundo, a security advisor with the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. Generally only given twice a year, the training is conducted by instructors from the civilian contracting firm Oshkosh, and consists of five training days that span a total of forty hours on vehicle. Much of the course is hands-on-training, providing students with valuable practice that might prove beneficial in real-world environments. "The training helps familiarize folks with how to properly care for and operate the M-ATVs, which better prepares one's situational awareness in case bad things happen to your vehicle," said Master Sgt. David Vollmer, a NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan vehicle maintenance advisor with the 439th AEAS. The night-time driving portion of the course was particular rewarding, said Vollmer. "The more one drives an asset of this type, the more confortable and confident they become," he said. Though filled with useful information, Vollmer said that the most important aspect of the course is, "paying attention to the preventative maintenance checks. There are many steps which are necessary and the details provided should be adhered to for your personal safety and the safety of those who convoy with you." "I am glad I had this training because I know what to expect when on a convoy if something happens, and I know I will be able to quickly respond to repairing or getting the asset back to a safe environment without damaging the vehicle," said Vollmer. Yet educational, the course is also something that deployed servicemembers find important: fun. "It was a fun course and very hands-on in many portions of the training. Being a hands-on person, blue collar type of guy, I enjoyed the parts that dealt with utilizing the vehicle itself. I highly recommend this training," said Vollmer.