Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Estela Calvillo, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., and a unit supply specialist for...... read more read more
By Pfc. Samantha Schutz
Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad can be compared to a well-oiled Ironhorse machine, with hundreds of working parts all moving in sync.
Each Soldier within the division plays a specific part to keep the gears running smoothly, from planning route clearance missions to going out as a gunner and executing the missions, and each part is vital.
Phoenix, Ariz., native Pfc. Estela Calvillo, a unit supply specialist with Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., knows each job she does while on duty is critical to the overall success of the Ironhorse mission in Iraq.
As a unit supply specialist, Calvillo is trained to place orders for the entire division. She orders office supplies for the Soldiers supporting the division from the headquarters as well as new uniforms and equipment for Soldiers working on the front lines, without which the machine would quickly break.
In addition to keeping the division's Soldiers supplied, Calvillo is also responsible for issuing and keeping track of weapons. As her company's armorer, she tracks each Soldier's weapon by serial number on individual hand receipts. She also issues and keeps count of all ammunition.
"She's accountable for about 36 million dollars worth of equipment," said Sgt. Linda Estes, a supply sergeant for Company B, STB, 4th Inf. Div., and Calvillo's supervisor.
"We have a lot of sensitive items," said Calvillo, adding that the job is one to be taken very seriously.
Calvillo keeps a record of all the hand receipts, which includes each Soldier's name, social security number, weapon type and weapon serial number. She updates this master authorization listing once a week. If a Soldier goes on leave or turns in his weapon due to a medical emergency, Calvillo's list must indicate that.
Besides keeping track of weapons, Calvillo is also trained to diagnose and repair weapon malfunctions. She is constantly on call to fix these issues. For instance, if a Soldier loses or breaks a spring in his weapon, Calvillo would give him a temporary replacement while she acquires and replaces the part in the broken one.
While being the armorer for the company carries a lot of responsibility and importance, Calvillo said it isn't her most challenging task.
Upon her arrival to Camp Liberty, Calvillo took a one-day course to train in mailroom operations. She learned the procedures for picking up and handling accountable mail, which the recipient must sign for when they pick it up, and unaccountable mail, which she sorts by staff section for a representative to pick up and distribute to their coworkers.
Calvillo and one of her coworkers drive more than 20 minutes away to pick up the mail each day. Not only is it beneficial for Soldiers' morale to receive mail, it is a federal offense if the mailroom workers neglect to pick it up one day, Calvillo said.
Between the hours of 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., Calvillo is handling mail, much of which consists of light envelopes all the way to heavy care packages.
"We have to load (the packages), unload them, sort them, then issue them, so I probably lift the same box about four times a day," Calvillo said.
Even though Calvillo tries to make it a point to go to the gym every other evening, her work hours are long and she is often exhausted at the end of the day, she said. However, she said she has noticed her upper body getting stronger from handling heavy boxes every day.
With three jobs dividing her workday, Calvillo does not get much personal time to focus on physical fitness or her social life. During her lunch break, she said she usually gets food to go so she can spend some time on the Internet from her trailer, catching up on e-mails.
"I have to e-mail my mom every day," said Calvillo. "Sometimes she cries when I get the chance to call her on the phone."
Since she is an only child and only 19 years old, Calvillo said her parents worry about her being so far from home. She said she looks forward to the care package they send once a week.
Calvillo also looks forward to Sunday mornings. A practicing Catholic, she enjoys having the opportunity to celebrate Mass once a week to worship an hour and clear her mind, she said.
"Going to church makes my whole week better," Calvillo said.
For her day-to-day morale boost, Calvillo relies on her boyfriend of nearly a year, Jose. Jose is an infantryman in the Army, and his perspective helps Calvillo see the bigger picture, she said.
"Whenever I get down, he encourages me," said Calvillo about Jose. "He reminds me that things could always get worse and they will always get better."
Even though Calvillo misses experiencing special moments with her family and friends, she looks forward to being able to say, "I was there. I was 19 years old and I went to Iraq," she said.
Keeping a positive attitude like Calvillo's is vital to keeping the gears in the machine oiled; if one Soldier starts to let negativity slow them down, the rest of the unit will feel the effects.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2008 22:15 |
| Story ID: | 15650 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 76 |
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