Photo By Adam Holguin | Soldiers assigned to the 369th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Company...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - The 369th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Company departed from here in the early hours of Feb. 20 en route to a nine-month mission to the Middle East.
The Army Reserve unit headquartered in El Paso, with a detachment in Waco, Texas, completed an array of technical and tactical training in preparation for this deployment that included time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as well as mobilization training at McGregor Range, New Mexico, under the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Since beginning to train and prepare in earnest in August 2015, the 369th CBRN Co. feels prepared for the mission that awaits them.
“Our primary role is to provide CBRN assets for the U.S. Central Command theater of operations,” Capt. Steven Pugh, commander, 369th CBRN Co. said. “We have the ability to run missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia … typically what we would do is we provide decontamination for units, equipment, personnel and we also do evidence collection.”
The abilities of the 369th and the area of operations in which they will be located could make for a busy time for Sgt. 1st Class Latasha Simmons, operations noncommissioned officer in charge, 369th CBRN Co.
“Each of the platoons has their own specialty and depending on what happens we will disseminate the platoons to go anywhere in the area of operations,” said Simmons. “The main thing that I stress is just to remain flexible … so they are used to change and we are ready.”
According to Pugh, the unit makeup is a mixed bag. About 60 percent is organic and about 40 percent cross-leveled into the unit specifically for this mission. While the majority of the unit is Texan, it is also comprised of Soldiers from units across the country, which made the duration of training all the more critical.
“We have been training since October and I think it brought us all together,” 2nd Lt. Luke Bernhard, 4th platoon leader, 369th CBRN Co., said. “There is a lot of cross levels, so working (and training) together really prepared us well. I feel confident going overseas.”
CBRN units take on the added pressure of such a dangerous specialization, so preparing for this mission was essential.
“These guys have been running constant battle drills and exercises to keep them proficient on the technical aspect of their job,” Pugh said. “It is a very, very technical job. I have got subject matter experts all over the company.”
In addition, while the tactical aspects and potential areas of operation for this mission are complex, many in the unit have modest goals for their downtime.
“One goal for this deployment is getting my beach body. I need to come back with an eight-pack,” Simmons joked. “Other than that, there are a lot of educational benefits over there and I am going to stress that the whole unit take advantage. Get those college credits in, start that degree.”
Staff Sgt. Krystal Danielle Jenkins, squad leader, 1st Platoon, who is deploying for the second time, hopes Soldiers develop their military careers and broaden their horizons.
“I want my Soldiers to get promoted while they are out there,” Jenkins said. “Also, for them to get the cultural experience, to know what we are fighting against and who we are helping while we are out there.”
Bernhard hopes to complete certification for a civilian career in athletic training and is pushing his Soldiers to pursue getting more education.
“We are going to stress that our Soldiers take at least one class – college or military,” Bernhard said. “We want them to take that next step – better Soldier, better citizen, and better person.”
| Date Taken: | 03.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2016 17:05 |
| Story ID: | 192746 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | WACO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 1,098 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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