Military News
Florida National Guard Soldiers ready for next step
By Capt. Mavin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West Public Affairs
Mar 1, 2010 - 5:44:45 PM

Blackanthem Military News

Col. Richard Gallant (far right) prepares to case the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's colors during a farewell ceremony on North Fort Hood, Texas, Feb. 25. Gallant is the commander of the 2,500-Soldier unit from the Florida National Guard. The ceremony marks the end of a 45-day pre-combat training regiment with the 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West, and the start of the unit's year-long deployment to Kuwait and Iraq. (Photo by Capt. Marvin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West, Public Affairs.)

FORT HOOD, Texas - Last fall Soldiers in the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team like Pfc. Heather Odom had just completed the most intense realistic training they had ever experienced. Their annual training in Northern Florida brought together elements of the 53rd IBCT to experience combat situations while preparing for their deployment to Kuwait and Iraq.

The next step on their road to combat was 45 days of post-mobilization training at North Fort Hood, Texas, under the watchful eye of observer controller/trainers from the 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West.

"The training we received in Florida last fall helped us with our individual Soldier skills. The training here at Fort Hood tested our collective Soldier skills," said Capt. Sandra Doberstein, 53rd IBCT Public Affairs Officer.

The unit's mission in Kuwait and Iraq will be to provide escort and convoy security. The unit's infantry Soldiers, along with the other combat arms Soldiers in the unit, were trained to be security teams and quick reaction forces.

The unit will also be responsible for base camp security training and force protection in Kuwait and Iraq. The training on North Fort Hood consisted of urban operations, mounted gunnery, mounted maneuver, cultural awareness and language training. Training concluded with a 13-day, around-the-clock culminating training event, which tested the entire 2,500-Soldier unit in all skills and abilities.

With their training complete and their Colors cased in a ceremony on Feb. 25, on North Fort Hood, Pfc. Heather Odom and her fellow Soldiers are ready to move on to the next step.

"We followed her all over the country. We went to North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and now here to Texas to watch her finish training," said Heather's sister, Beth Odom. "Heather joined the Army a little over a year ago, and this is her first deployment."

Beth said Heather has always known what she wanted to do. She was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps in high school, got permission to enlist when she was 17, and went to basic training as soon as she graduated. In the past year, Odom has been home for 32 days and is now deploying.

"It's been an emotional roller coaster for all of us, but we support her decision," Beth said.

Beth, her grandmother, her brother, and three other family members drove from Bonifay, Fla., to visit with Heather one more time before she deployed.

Victoria Riehle, drove up from Tallahassee, Fla., with her children to visit with her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Riehle.

The state prepared families like the Riehles for all phases of the deployment cycle with its Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides information, services and outreach opportunities to Soldiers, their families and employers who help families deal more adequately with these separation challenges.

"We are doing a countdown for the kids at home, and I keep a paper chain to remind me that he will be home soon."

The 53rd IBCT is deploying from Fort Hood during the next couple weeks and will spend up to a year deployed before returning home to their families.