Unit finds defensive driving a lifesaver in Egyptian desert

National Guard, Feb 2002 by Wade, Paul R

Maryland

The word came down from higher: D Company, 229th Main Support Battalion had a convoy mission in the morning.

You would think that this would be business as usual for the experienced truck drivers of this Maryland Army Guard unit. But Exercise Bright Star and Egypt's narrow, crowded highways present a whole new set of rules for the road.

Fortunately, the truckers spent weeks in Baltimore preparing for their days in October at the massive biennial exercise held in the Sahara Desert since 1981. They researched past exercises, studied the culture and reinforced defensive-driving techniques. This prevented accidents-and restless nights.

"Egypt has no driving laws, which makes prior training all the more crucial," said Staff Sgt. Margaret M. Compton, the unit's truck master.

"The miles over here are more intense," she said. "It's like driving on the moon with only mounds of sand as reference points then suddenly you are in a market cutting hard rights and dodging mule drawn-carts."

All the preparation paid off during this and other convoys. The drivers transported the baggage of some of the more than 70,000 (18,000 of them U.S. troops) exercise participants from Jiyanklis Air Base to Mubarak Military City for the exercise without incident.

Still, desert driving was unique for even the most experienced drivers.

"It is mesmerizing and almost hypnotic," said Spc. Vernon E. Hudson, who drives trucks full-time for a Baltimore freight company. "There is a vast greatness of nothing and at the same time it is also beautiful. "

-By Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Wade