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CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan - Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Brigade Specials Troops Battalion from the 10th Mountain Division on Camp Mike Spann in northern Afghanistan, have started the long process of preparing for their return home to Fort Drum by cleaning and packing their equipment, as well as organizing programs for the incoming unit.
Packing begins several months prior to the unit’s redeployment date – and the journey for C Company is a long one.
Non-essential equipment and personal items are the first to be packed. Soldiers are able to competently complete their missions with the bare minimum of belongings required to maintain a livable state of comfort both on and off work.
Most items are cleaned and inspected, repacked into boxes, placed into shipping containers, which are then secured.
It’s a long and tedious task, but it’s also a somewhat enjoyable one, because it represents one step closer to going home.
Some of C Company’s equipment was ready to be turned in early for packing. The Command Post Node team supported the brigade elements at the Regional Command North Headquarter at Camp Marmal. This section’s mission ended in December and the CPN soldiers rejoined the rest of the company at Camp Mike Spann.
High Capacity Line of Sight was also turned in and packed earlier than other equipment. Sfc. Yolanda Forrest, 1st Platoon’s platoon sergeant, and Sgt. Timothy Kmiec, 1st Platoon’s HCLOS section sergeant, climbed the German tower located on Camp Spann to recover the equipment.
“The more equipment we prepare now, the easier our jobs will be as we get closer to our redeployment date,” said Forrest, a platoon sergeant with C Company.
Some electronic equipment has already begun the journey back to Fort Drum.
The first stop for this mission essential equipment is to be reset and realigned in order to meet future mission capacities. The Equipment Reset Program fixes and updates the Army’s equipment so the unit can stay prepared for whatever is next.
“Planning the transfer of responsibility is essential for a smooth transition between us and the incoming unit,” said Capt. Lisa Kirby, C Company’s commander.
Soldiers of the company, along with members of 1BSTB, have been planning the hand off of duties to their replacement unit for several months.
Equipment operators have been coordinating with to their replacements; leaders have been sharing lessons learned, and relief in place and transfer of authority plans have been established. This will ensure the continued success of the mission after the company’s departure.
Over the course of the next several weeks, the replacement unit and their equipment will arrive, inventories for equipment being left in Afghanistan will be conducted, and the plan to head home will be in motion.
The process of redeployment is not easy, and takes a lot of time and planning to make it work. However, it’s a process the soldiers of C Company have been looking forward to for the last ten months. The hard work and sacrifices they have made by being away from family and loved ones are about to be rewarded with a well deserved break.
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.25.2011 21:34 |
| Story ID: | 64208 |
| Location: | CAMP MIKE SPANN, AF |
| Web Views: | 188 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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