Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Jason Fetterolf | Sgt. 1st Class Jorge Ditren, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-113th Infantry...... read more read more
By Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Tejada
50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
FORT BLISS, Texas - Boots, check; - helmet, check; - rifle, check; - Xbox...check! These are some of the items that Iraq-based Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, packed in preparation for their deployment. While all of the traditional items, such as uniforms and weapons, are still on their list, today's Soldiers have found new technology, such as i-Pods, Wi-Fi laptops and Xboxes, to be an important part of their packing list as well, accompanying them wherever duty calls.
Armed with up to three personal duffel bags, a foot locker and an endless supply of portable technology, Soldiers of the 50th IBCT mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom have been given the opportunity to carry tactical and comfort items Soldiers in previous wars could only have dreamed about bringing.
"Some of my Soldiers were packing plasma TV's, Xboxes, Playstation 3's and a lot of books. It's hard to imagine bringing some of these items to war before," said Staff Sgt. Jose Hernandez, supply sergeant for Bravo Co., 2-113th Infantry Battalion, while observing his Soldiers completing individual inventories of personal gear.
1st Lt. Jeffrey Williamson, executive officer and unit movement officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 2-113th Infantry Battalion and Gulf War Veteran, remembers when packing for his prior deployment was a lot different and simpler.
"All we packed were two duffel bags and a rucksack, and we carried it all; there were no Connexes [shipping containers]," said Williamson.
A former aircraft mechanic during Desert Storm, Williamson thought simple items such as gloves are a great addition to the new packing list.
"Gloves are a huge improvement, there were times we couldn't touch our tools because they got so hot out in the desert," he added.
For Staff Sgt. Philip Lore, Charlie Co., 2-113th Infantry Battalion, the operational and personal equipment Soldiers carry during this operation are a sharp contrast from his first deployment during the Vietnam War.
"I couldn't even pack shaving cream because we needed to make space for ammunition," said Lore.
Though concerned that Soldiers are being too spoiled with the amount of comfort items they are allowed, Lore showed great satisfaction with the new tactical equipment issued, especially night vision equipment.
"M68's, NVG's [night vision goggles] and PQ-15's are great things to have when you are in a listening post," Lore added. M68's and PQ-15's are aiming optical devices that can assist Soldiers performing Area Security Operations that the HHC, 2-113th Infantry is performing at Camp Bucca.
Some Soldiers who were interviewed believed that too much of a good thing, like personal laptops with internet, could distract Soldiers from the mission, but they agreed the benefits of having these items during war, outweigh the possible disadvantages.
"Technology allows Soldiers to send videos and wish their kids happy birthday," said Lt. Col. John Scannell, 50th IBCT Brigade unit movement officer. Scannell is responsible for almost 200 tons worth of brigade equipment that has just arrived in Iraq - up to a third of which is Soldiers' personal gear. He does not see anything wrong with allowing Soldiers to bring items like laptops.
"Anything that makes a Soldier's life less stressful, if we can manage to do it, we should do it," said Scannell.
More than 3100 Soldiers from the 50th IBCT have deployed to Iraq in early September including nearly 1200 Soldiers in 11 companies that are assigned to Camp Bucca.
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2008 08:52 |
| Story ID: | 25311 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 122 |
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