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88H Cargo Specialist

88 Series Enlisted

88H

88K

88L

88M

88N

88U

Testimonials

88H NCO

SGT - KSB

SSG - KSB

SFC - KSB

88H Enlisted Career Paths

About 88H

The U.S. Army Transportation Corps' 88H Cargo Specialist are disciplined, technical experts that transship cargo between all modes of transportation and execute port operations upload/download, staging, and marshalling tasks to support the Army’s global operations. 88H Cargo Specialists are the Army's experts for everything the Army moves by land, sea, or air.

88H Cargo Specialists are trained in:

  • Cargo Documentation
  • Securing of Cargo
  • Manual and Automatic Cargo Handling Procedures
  • Equipment training on Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Cargo Handler (RTCH), the All-Terrain Lifter Army System (ATLAS 10K), the 40-ton Mobile Crane, and the ship/shore mounted Hagglund Crane.

88H Cargo Specialists are trained in:

  • Cargo Documentation
  • Securing of Cargo
  • Manual and Automatic Cargo Handling Procedures
  • Equipment training on Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Cargo Handler (RTCH), the All-Terrain Lifter Army System (ATLAS 10K), the 40-ton Mobile Crane, and the ship/shore mounted Hagglund Crane.

88H Cargo Specialist

101st Airborne Cargo Handlers stacking containers.
101st Airborne Cargo Handlers stacking containers.
Cargo Specialist from the 101st Airborne loading large equipment.
Cargo Specialist from the 101st Airborne loading large equipment.

88H Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) (Sergeant – Sergeant First Class)

United States Army equipment successfully lands on the beach from a Floating Causeway in Bowen North Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre, marking the opening of Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) activities which enables the movement of equipment, machinery and vehicles from vessel to shore. (Photo by Australian Defence Force Cpl. Jacob Joseph)

At the NCO level, 88H Cargo Specialists are proficient in all methods of cargo handling and storage procedures (manual or mechanical). They demonstrate a high degree of technical and tactical proficiency and competent performance of leadership functions in order to effectively train junior enlisted Soldiers. The Cargo Specialist NCO maintains accountability of Soldiers and teaches them to properly maintain their equipment to increase mission and training effectiveness.

88H Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors

Sergeant Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors

Proponent Vision: Cargo Specialists are disciplined, technical experts that transship cargo between all modes of transport and execute port operations tasks to support the Army’s global operations. The Cargo Specialist SGT is proficient in all methods of cargo handling and storage procedures (manual or mechanical). They demonstrate a high degree of technical/tactical proficiency and competent performance of leadership functions in order to effectively train. The Cargo Specialist SGT maintains accountability of Soldiers and teaches them to properly maintain their equipment to increase mission and training effectiveness.

Developmental/ Experiential Learning

Positions:Cargo Checker, Container Handler, Senior Forklift Operator, Senior Crane Operator, Cargo NCO, Terminal Ops NCO

Broadening Experiences: Drill Sergeant, Recruiter

Experiences: Cargo Specialist Sergeants gain a variety of experiences through institutional education, home station training, unit expertise and self development. With sufficient experience they can become Cargo Checkers, Container Handler’s, Senior Forklift Operators, Senior Crane Operator’s, Cargo NCO’s and Terminal Ops NCO.

Additional Information

College and University Associates Degree (O)

Credentials & Certifications (Continuing Education) Rigger/ Signalperson Certification (O), Rigger Level II (O)

Military Schooling Advanced Leaders Course (R), Global Air Trans Exec Sys-Surface (GATES) (D), TC-AIMS II (D), Integrated Computerized Deployment System (ICODES)-Sea/Air (D), Unit Movement Officer Deployment Planning Course (UMODPC) (D), Battle Staff (O), Master Resilience Trainer (O), SHARP (O), Joint Military Attaché (O), Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course (O)

(D) Desired (O) Optional (R) Required

Baseline Talents Army Talent Attribute Framework - Tier 2

  • Decision Making
  • Problem Solving
  • Situational Awareness
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • General Cognitive Ability
  • Reasoning
  • Active Listening
  • Tactical/ Technical Competence
  • Leadership

Assignment Developed Talents Army Talent Attribute Framework – Tier 2

  • Attention Control
  • General Cognitive Ability
  • Reasoning
  • Multi-Domain Collaboration
  • Training & Developing Others
  • Decision Making
  • Problem Solving
  • General Communication
  • Military Specific
  • Safety & Compliance

Tier 3 Army Talent Attribute Framework KSBs (Baseline)

  • Decision Making
  • Mental Agility
  • General Cognitive Aptitude
  • Multi-Tasking
  • Perceptive
  • Problem Solver
  • Active Learning
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Situational Awareness
  • Active Listening
  • Stress Tolerance
  • MOS/Branch Specific Knowledge and Skill
  • Cooperation/Team Work
  • Team Building
  • Team Planning
  • Consensus Building
  • Motivating Others
  • Leads by Example
  • Improves the Organization

Tier 3 Army Talent Attribute Framework KSBs (Assignment Developed)

  • Focus
  • Decision Making
  • Sound Judgement
  • General Cognitive Aptitude
  • Perceptive
  • Problem Solver
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Critical Thinking
  • Communicator
  • Army Self Efficacy
  • Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental & Multinational Perspective
  • Process-Discipline
  • Safety Compliance
  • Interpersonal Tact
  • Team Building
  • Team Orientation
  • Enforces Standards

Staff Sergeant Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors

Proponent Vision: Cargo Specialist Staff Sergeants lead, instruct, and provides technical guidance to technical experts to ensure the safe operation of cargo handling equipment in support of Army global operations. They plan, organize, and execute the different types of terminal operations and services for all modes of transport. The Cargo Specialist SSG prepares and utilize stowage plans, aircraft load plans and other documentation to conduct cargo operations in addition to preparing, consolidating and review technical reports covering unit activities. They are skilled in operating all cargo handling equipment and lead squads/sections.

Developmental/ Experiential Learning

Positions:Section Chief, Assistant Operations SGT, Terminal Ops NCO, Foreman, Load Planner, Stow Planner, Cargo NCO Terminal Ops NCO

Broadening Experiences: Training Developer, Observer/Controller, DS, Recruiter, ALC SGL, Training Mgmt NCO, Instructor/Writer

Experiences: Cargo Specialist Staff Sergeants gain a variety of experiences through institutional education, unit expertise and self development. With sufficient experience they can become Section Chiefs, Squad Leaders, Foreman, Operations Sergeant, Assistant. Plans NCO, Load Planner and Cargo Handlers.

College and University Associates Degree (O)

Credentials & Certifications (Continuing Education) Rigger/ Signalperson Certification (O), Rigger Level II (O)

Military Schooling Advanced Leaders Course (R), Global Air Trans Exec Sys-Surface (GATES) (D), TC-AIMS II (D), Integrated Computerized Deployment System (ICODES)-Sea/Air (D), Unit Movement Officer Deployment Planning Course (UMODPC) (D), Battle Staff (O), Master Resilience Trainer (O), SHARP (O), Joint Military Attaché (O), Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course (O)

(D) Desired (O) Optional (R) Required

Baseline Talents Army Talent Attribute Framework - Tier 2

  • Decision Making
  • General Cognitive Ability
  • Meta-Cognition
  • Problem Solving
  • Reasoning
  • Active Listening
  • Management
  • Military Specific
  • Safety & Compliance
  • Teamwork

Assignment Developed Talents Army Talent Attribute Framework - Tier 2

  • Attention Control
  • Decision Making
  • General Cognitive Ability
  • Meta-Cognition
  • Reasoning
  • Communication
  • Management
  • Safety & Compliance
  • Teamwork
  • Leadership

Tier 3 Army Talent Attribute Framework KSBs (Baseline)

  • Mental Agility
  • Multi-Tasking
  • Analyzes and Organizes Information to Create Knowledge
  • Structured Problem Solving
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Interdisciplinary Reasoning
  • Active Listening
  • Communication Ability
  • Delegating
  • Project Management
  • Time Management
  • Military & Professional Bearing
  • Working in Multidisciplinary contexts
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Cooperation/Teamwork
  • Project Manager
  • Coordinating Multiple Groups

Tier 3 Army Talent Attribute Framework KSBs (Assignment Developed)

  • Mental Agility
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Sound Judgement
  • Multi-Tasking
  • Analyzes & Organizes Information to Create Knowledge
  • Critical Thinking
  • Interdisciplinary Reasoning
  • Communication Ability
  • Safety Compliance
  • Team Development
  • Organizational Perspective
  • Delegating
  • Project Manager
  • Time Management
  • Leads by Example
  • Improves the Organization
  • Consensus Building

Sergeant First Class Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors

Proponent Vision: Cargo Specialist Staff Sergeants lead, instruct, and provides technical guidance to technical experts to ensure the safe operation of cargo handling equipment in support of Army global operations. They plan, organize, and execute the different types of terminal operations and services for all modes of transport. The Cargo Specialist SSG prepares and utilize stowage plans, aircraft load plans and other documentation to conduct cargo operations in addition to preparing, consolidating and review technical reports covering unit activities. They are skilled in operating all cargo handling equipment and lead squads/sections.

Developmental/ Experiential Learning

Positions:Section Chief, Assistant Operations SGT, Terminal Ops NCO, Foreman, Load Planner, Stow Planner, Cargo NCO Terminal Ops NCO

Broadening Experiences: Training Developer, Observer/Controller, DS, Recruiter, ALC SGL, Training Mgmt NCO, Instructor/Writer

Experiences: Cargo Specialist Staff Sergeants gain a variety of experiences through institutional education, unit expertise and self development. With sufficient experience they can become Section Chiefs, Squad Leaders, Foreman, Operations Sergeant, Assistant. Plans NCO, Load Planner and Cargo Handlers.

College and University Associates Degree (O)

Credentials & Certifications (Continuing Education) Rigger/ Signalperson Certification (O), Rigger Level II (O)

Military Schooling Advanced Leaders Course (R), Global Air Trans Exec Sys-Surface (GATES) (D), TC-AIMS II (D), Integrated Computerized Deployment System (ICODES)-Sea/Air (D), Unit Movement Officer Deployment Planning Course (UMODPC) (D), Battle Staff (O), Master Resilience Trainer (O), SHARP (O), Joint Military Attaché (O), Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course (O)

(D) Desired (O) Optional (R) Required

Baseline Talents Army Talent Attribute Framework - Tier 2

  • Decision Making
  • Problem Solving
  • Reasoning
  • Systems Thinking
  • General communication
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Safety & Compliance
  • Management
  • Leadership

Assignment Developed Talents Army Talent Attribute Framework - Tier 2

  • Attention Control
  • Creativity
  • Decision Making
  • Meta-Cognition
  • Situational Awareness
  • IT Programs & Systems
  • Mechanical & Electrical
  • Multi-Domain Collaboration
  • Management
  • Leadership

Tier 3 Army Talent Attribute Framework KSBs (Baseline)

  • Decision Making
  • Sound Judgement
  • Structured Problem Solving
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Systems Thinking
  • Communicator
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Cooperation/Teamwork
  • Team Development
  • Evaluating Compliance
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Delegating
  • Resource Management
  • Task Planning & Management
  • Improves the Organization
  • Organizational Perspective
  • Peer Leadership

Tier 3 Army Talent Attribute Framework KSBs (Assignment Developed)

  • Attentiveness
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Cognitive Flexibility
  • Mental Agility
  • Sound Judgement
  • Reflective Thinking
  • Situational Awareness
  • Knowledge Management
  • Inspecting Equipment
  • Objects, Structures, or Materials
  • JIIM Perspective
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Working in Multidisciplinary Contexts
  • Project Manager
  • Resource Management
  • Improves the Organization
  • Organizational Perspective

88H Enlisted Career Paths

As an 88H Cargo Specialist, opportunities are available to secure civilian credentials which can be applied towards points for promotion within the Army as well as expand opportunities for application outside the Army.

TWI

Virginia International Gateway - Provides the participant with experience and understanding of commercial port operations, an increased understanding of strategic and operational distribution operations, and container management as part of the Port, Harbor & Marine Terminal Management Industry. The NCO gains an understanding of how commercial industry correlates to Army operations from a strategic standpoint. This exposure to advanced technology utilized in commercial industry is used in determining how process improvement could enhance Army operations. The NCO is utilized at the ASCC level performing future and current air, sea, and land operations planning functions and is able to capitalize on how the commercial industry transports commodities to incorporate into Army operations planning and at the US Army Transportation School as a training developer to enhance institutional training.

U.S. Army Central Soldiers attend a port operations safety brief at the Port of El Dekheila, Egypt, Sept. 3, 2023. Port operations is a maritime procedure to rapidly move vehicles and equipment from sea to shore. Bright Star 2023 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command exercise held with the Arab Republic of Egypt across air, land, and sea domains that promotes and enhances regional security and cooperation, and improves interoperability in irregular warfare against hybrid threat scenarios. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Amber Cobena)

88H : Virginia International Gateway

Additional Opportunities

Training with Industry

Industry Based Broadening — Institute for Defense and Business (IDB)

Purpose:The focus of the IB2 seminar is Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs) specifically the use of ERPs as a decision-making tool to improve readiness, lethality, and reduce costs for the Army.

Concept: Strategic seminar for officers, warrant officers, senior NCOs, and DA Civilians hosted by the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) in Chapel Hill, NC.

Foundation Benchmark Output
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3
Business/ERP Integration, Intelligence, & Analytics Industry Benchmarking Practical Application Exercises
Industry/Academic Research Business Intelligence & Data Analytics Final Project Development
Problem Statement Analysis, Development, & Refinement Industry/Academic Research Project Presentation