Minnesota National Guard

Story by Sgt. Jodi Krause

The Soldiers of A Company, 834th Aviation Support Battalion have begun training to become the next Quick Reaction Force in the Minnesota Army National Guard. The training to prepare for QRF certification began at the Rosemount, Minn. Armory on Nov. 13.

"Since the 834th just returned from deployment and has a few years to prepare for the next deployable year according to the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) plan, the State [Current Operations] decided to assign the QRF mission to the 834th and specifically A Co.," said Master Sgt. Kevin Moore, Acting 834th ASB Command Sgt. Maj.

The ARFORGEN process is used to manage the force and ensure the ability to support demands for Army forces.

According to A Co. QRF Lead Instructor Staff Sgt. Luke Eastvold, in order to fulfill the requirement of at least 75 Soldiers responding within six hours of a call, the company's leadership chose to train all of the approximately 160 Soldiers in the St. Paul, Minn. based company.

"The Soldiers are fired up and highly motivated to do this important mission," Master Sgt. Moore said. "Just watching the Soldiers' enthusiasm while they are training to perform this mission inspires both enlisted and officers alike."

The training will be conducted on the company's drill weekends until the testing for certification in January, 2010.

"The QRF Instructors have taken this task very serious, and have set the Soldiers up for success," said Cpt. Christopher Staples, A Co. 834th ASB Commander. "I expect A Co. to exceed the validation standards throughout the process."

To be validated to perform the QRF mission, the unit needs to show the State Current Operations that they can perform duties specific to a QRF mission, like disperse and control crowds using different formations and nonlethal means, said Moore.

Once certified, A Co. will act as a security element at any time needed to support local and state needs. The certification is active for three years, and A Co. will continue training to keep up with their QRF skills during that time.

Being a QRF will be an additional state active duty mission for A Co. while its main tasks are to acquire, transport, store and deliver critical resources such as ammunition, fuel, water and aviation repair parts for the units it supports.

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