Photo By Amabilia Payen | Soldiers assigned to 305th Engineer Company, 315th Engineer Battalion, board the plane...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - The 305th Engineer Company, 315th Engineer Battalion from Camp Pendleton, Calif., deployed April 14 from the Silas L. Copeland Departure/Arrival Airfield Control Group, here, to Afghanistan to conduct route clearance - one of the most dangerous missions in the U.S. Army.
The unit trained on their key mission essential task which is clearing improvised explosive devices in order to ensure the safety of all service members and civilians, who utilize such routes for movement.
Staff Sgt. Mark Rausch is the company’s operations noncommissioned officer in charge and was very appreciative of the training the unit received here, claiming it was a good step in getting them “a refresher before going on this deployment.” Rausch is focused on two specific goals for the unit’s deployment.
“My number one expectation for this deployment is to complete our mission,” said Rausch. “Once we get over there, I’m going to do what I can to make sure all the routes are safe and everyone is comfortable driving on them without having a fear of being exposed to IEDs. My secondary expectation is to bring everybody that we took with us back home safe and sound.”
Rausch is a graduate from the University of Texas, Austin with a computer science degree. He credits his success to his family and friends who live in Indiana, and his wife and children who live in Austria.
“I also want to give thanks to the families of the family readiness group, back in Camp Pendleton,” said Rausch. “They have been very supportive of not only the unit but towards the Soldiers themselves. We feel really supported by the families.”
Supply Specialist Pfc. Amairani Hernandez Maldonado was excited, anxious, nervous, and a little scared about going on her first deployment. To her, the training conducted here was pretty intense. Originally from Mexico and now residing in Corona, Calif., Hernandez is a first generation service member in her family and she wanted to reassure her family that they had nothing to worry about.
“I love them, I miss them very much,” said Hernandez. “I will be coming home soon, don’t worry, my battle buddies will be taking care of me.” Twenty-year-old Hernandez plans to attend college upon her return and concentrate on a Business Administration degree.
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2014 12:43 |
| Story ID: | 127858 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,621 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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