Job: Cargo Specialist (88H)

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To be a U.S. Army Soldier is to be a part of the strongest fighting force in the world. You'll spend your days training, working and serving together to protect America's freedoms. But you'll also have time after work for family, friends and personal interests. From recruitment to retirement, the U.S. Army provides a unique and diverse lifestyle for Soldiers.


The Army forces need supplies, weapons, equipment and mail delivered on a daily basis, all over the world. This cargo, which travels by land, sea and air, has to be handled carefully. Ensuring the safe arrival at the correct destinations of any and all Army cargo is the responsibility of the Cargo Specialist. Cargo Specialists load and unload supplies and materials using equipment such as forklifts and cranes, as well as plan and organize loading schedules, creates/reviews ocean cargo manifest and load plans. Cargo Specialists are primarily responsible for transferring or supervising the transfer of passengers, cargo and equipment to and from air, land and water transport by manual and mechanical methods. Some of your duties as a Cargo Specialist may include:

* Inspect, tally, and document cargo utilizing both manual and automated data processing systems
* Rig ships' gear as part of a team
* Load and unload supplies and equipment from ships, docks, beaches, railheads, boxcars, warehouses, motor vehicles and aircraft (to include internal and external helicopter loading)
* Operate and maintain all types and sizes of winches, cranes, and forklifts
* Create load plans for air shipment and ocean liner vessels
* Operate ocean liner vessel equipment

Job training for a Cargo Specialist requires ten weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and eight weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in testing different products. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Operation and care of forklifts, power winches, container handlers and cranes
* Techniques for loading and storing cargo
* Techniques for planning and scheduling cargo shipments
* Safety procedures for handling potentially dangerous cargo
* The Army offers certified apprenticeship programs for some specialties in this occupation.

Helpful attributes include:

* An interest in operating heavy equipment such as container handlers, forklifts and cranes
* A preference for physical work
* An interest in general office and business mathematics
* An interest in working around airport, railways, seaports and ocean beach terminals

Advanced level Cargo Specialists provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Cargo Specialist, you may be involved in:

* Assign cargo handlers, signal and winch operators to duty stations
* Provide technical guidance to subordinates
* Inspect cargo, supervise cargo checking and hatch operations and control aircraft loading and unloading
* Oversee railhead tie-down crews
* Direct container stuffing and unstuffing
* Plan warehouse storage
* Manage crane operations
* Supervise operator maintenance for cargo handling equipment such as cranes and forklifts
* Enforce safety practices and documentation procedures
* Coordinate with logistical agencies both military and civilian to ensure safe handling and transfer of cargo
* Prepare country clearance for equipment, cargo, and personnel with US Embassies
* Create load plans for ocean liner vessels and aircrafts by using automated systems
* Manage movement plans within specific marshalling and staging areas
* Ensure hazardous cargo, ammunition and sensitive cargo is stored properly

The skills you learn as a Cargo Specialist will help prepare you for a civilian career with trucking firms, air cargo companies and shipping lines. You'll be able to consider a future as an industrial truck operator, a stevedore, a longshoreman, a material handler or a cargo checker.

* Motor Transport Operator (88M)
* Transportation Management Coordinator (88N)
* Watercraft Operator (88K)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.