Photo By Ismael Ortega | Soldiers assigned to Mobilization and Deployment render honors as Soldiers assigned to...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - In the early hours of Feb. 6, the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group was abuzz with activity as numerous units departed here to the Middle East for a variety of missions across the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
Four U.S. Army Reserve units departed after completing mobilization training with Mobilization and Deployment, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, including the 271st Human Resource Company Detachment A3, the 530th Military Police Battalion Detachment 1, the 747th Forward Engineer Support Team and the 912th Adjutant General Company.
The 271st HR Company, Detachment A3, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, will provide postal services in Kuwait, a mission they believe is much more than bringing mail to and from Soldiers abroad.
“We are the morale boosters,” said 1st Lt. Kevin Perez, commander, 271st HR Company, Detachment A3. “It is so important to get the mail to the Soldiers. They can have a hard time during the deployment and just receiving the package or letter from home gives them that boost.”
The 912th AG Company, Tallahassee, Florida, brought together Soldiers from Florida, Georgia and Alabama specifically for this mission and will be working with the casualty assistance centers in Kuwait. In addition to the primary mission, the unit will be available to provide a wide-variety of human resource services throughout the region.
Premobilization training and time spent at McGregor Range, New Mexico, allowed the unit time to get to know each other before flying out, said 1st Lt. McKenna Murphey, officer in charge, 912th AG Company.
“We have an eclectic bunch,” Murphey said. “It’s been interesting to see the Soldiers build that camaraderie. Everyone was able to find their niche.”
The 747th FEST is comprised of professional engineers in the environmental, electrical, structural, mechanical and construction management fields and will provide design and survey services throughout CENTCOM’S area of operations.
“Wherever there is a base design or base expansion that needs technical engineer assistance, we will provide that,” said Capt. Matthew Collins, environmental engineer, 747th FEST.
The 530th MP Battalion will be providing internment and resettlement services at facilities in Kuwait.
Two other units traveled here from Fort Hood, Texas, to catch the same flight to the Middle East, the Joint Force Headquarters Alabama Detachment 2 (Forward), Alabama Army National Guard, and the Headquarters and Headquarters Service Company, 306th Military Intelligence Battalion, an active duty unit from Fort Hood.
“I am the commander of a select team of logisticians who are going to work in Afghanistan in a teach-assist-advise role with the Afghan national army and the Ministry of the Interior, teaching logistic and sustainment systems,” said Col. Charles Boneserra, commander, JFHQ-Alabama, Detachment 2 (Fwd).
Boneserra said members of his unit are confident in their ability to teach the Afghans to sustain themselves and bring the fight to the enemy.
“We are very highly skilled in what we do, subject matter experts in our fields,” Boneserra said. “None of us are going to make a 300 on the (Army) Physical Fitness Test, but every one of them bright boys has brains the size of a basketball.”
Altogether these six units, along with a handful of individual augmentees and advanced party Soldiers, departed on the same aircraft. The group had a wide variety of specializations and were military professionals ready to put their skill sets to work.
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2016 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 190247 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 584 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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