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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 8, 2008 - 11:34:01 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Soldiers from the 625th Transportation Detachment, Movement Control out of Manhattan, Kan., weigh their gear at Camp Atterbury March 10 after completing training here in preparation for deployment to Iraq. Photo by Army Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs. |
CAMP ATTERBURY, IN. - Forget the phrase "crawl, walk, and then run." The 625th Transportation Detachment, Movement Control out of Manhattan, Kan. bypassed the first two steps and hit the ground running. When the unit was formed, the 21 reservists instantly ran straight into training in preparation for deployment to Iraq.
"The unit has only been together since December 2007," said 2nd Lt. Phillip Miller, movement officer for the 625th. "Since that time, we have been training nonstop."
Training for the unit consisted of traveling between their hometown, Camp Shelby, Miss., and Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind.
"We started our training out in Kansas. Then we went to Mississippi and then back to Kansas. Now we are finishing everything up at Camp Atterbury," said Spc. Cody Mason.
The unit conducted Soldier readiness processing in Kansas and technical training in Mississippi. During that time, Soldiers completed Army Warrior Training during their spare time. Because of the split training, 625th was only at Camp Atterbury for about a month.
"We hit the ground running since we are only here for such a short amount of time," said White. "We gained our gear and jumped right into training."
While here at Camp Atterbury, the unit conducted training at Forward Operating Bases Bayonet and Warrior.
"Training here has prepared us for whatever might potentially happen over seas," said Mason. "It has also given everyone a chance to serve in a leadership position and develop leadership qualities."
"FOB Warrior ran through so many scenarios that I have never been able to experience having never been deployed before," added Sgt. Joey Blackwell. "It really gave me a good sense of what to expect."
The movement control team's mission in Iraq will consist of tracking convoys and military equipment. Soldiers will also be responsible for running computer programs, such as the Battle Command Support Sustainment System, to identify and organize military equipment movement.
"We will be working in two-five man teams over in Iraq and will be spread out over a couple of different sites," said Mason.
"I consider this unit to be lucky. Everyone gets along, so I know people will work well together within their teams once we begin our mission," said Phillip.
"We have 21 different people and 21 different personalities and everyone is great; so it will be hard not to have a good time while we are together," added White.
The personalities that White referred to shined as the 625th completed their duration at Camp Atterbury with the weighing of their gear. Soldiers immediately formed a team and system to effectively meet the individual weight limit. Each Soldier was allowed 400 pounds maximum weight limit for the individual and his or her gear. While completing this task, Soldiers joked around, and discussed what the upcoming tour might be like and how they would make the most of it.
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