Dagger Brigade Mass Reenlistment with 1st ID CG

Courtesy Photo | CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait (Oct. 4, 2006) - Maj. Gen. Fred D. Robinson, 1st Armored Division commanding general, congratulates and presents a coin to Spc. Salvator Larosa, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

10.04.2006

Courtesy Story

1st Infantry Division

2nd Lt. Katharine T. Smith, 2bCT 1ID

CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait (Oct. 4, 2006) - Soldiers from the "Greatest Brigade Combat Team Ever Formed," the 2nd Brigade 1st Infantry Division, made history by participating in the most memorable mass reenlistment Dagger Brigade has ever seen.

Maj. Gen. Fred D. Robinson, 1st Armored Division commanding general, gave the oath of reenlistment to 61 soldiers of 2BCT, 1ID and 1 from 596th Maintenance Company of 1AD at Camp Buerhing, Kuwait.

Immediately following the oath of reenlistment Robinson took time to personally shake each individual Soldier's hand and give them a 1st Armored Division coin for excellence which had their names already engraved onto it.

For a good amount of the Soldiers in the Dagger Brigade Combat Team this marks their second deployment in support of the Global War on Terror. For this reenlistment there was a excellent mixture of initial, midterm and career Soldiers willing to "Stay Army' and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team is leading the way in retention.

Many of the Soldiers reenlisted for stabilization to stay in their current unit while also taking advantage of the Brigade Commander's "Dagger to Books" college incentive. Col. J.B. Burton, Dagger Brigade Commander, approved this incentive to allow Soldiers who reenlist opportunity to stay with the team while attending a semester of college upon redeployment.

According to the Dagger Brigade Combat Team's reenlistment office, 21 first term, 13 were mid-career, and 28 career reenlistees made up the formation reciting the oath.

While the BCT is training and preparing to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, opportunities to reenlist this many soldiers at once are few and far between. This is not the first time Soldiers of 2BCT have been addressed by the commanding general of their parent unit. He spoke at their farewell ceremony in August and to battalions during visits to Schweinfurt, Germany, the BCT's home station.

"Talking to Soldiers keeps me going" said Robinson.

"Having him come down here for this attaches great importance to the reenlistment," said Staff Sgt. Boateng, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment.

This is Boateng's fourth re-enlistment and was the most memorable.

"To have someone that high ranking to come all the way from Germany to reenlist us is great," says Spc. Salas from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment.

This reenlistment is particularly special because it was not about Soldiers getting bonuses or other benefits.

"Today it was about Soldiers and Non-Commissioned Officers reenlisting knowing they are in harms way for their nation, the Army, and for their team," says Robinson.

Although the decision to reenlist is made solely by the individual, being able to stay with their team is a common motive. Spc. Zierlein, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment reenlisted to "Help stay in with my little brother who recently enlisted, following in my footsteps."

With the help of each reenlistment office throughout the Brigade Combat Team, Soldiers are well informed and educated during the entire process. Sgt. 1st Class Robert G. Staley, the Senior Career Counselor for the BCT, is extremely impressed of the amount of Soldiers wanting to reenlist and expects to see the numbers increase as the Soldiers experience the feeling of teamwork and companionship that comes with a deployment.

The event was capped off with the Soldiers eating lunch with the commanding general and his staff in Camp Buehring's dining facility. While there, Robinson took time to get to know the Soldiers on a personal level and addressed any issues and concerns they may have had.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2006
• Date Posted: 10.10.2006 10:48
• Story ID: 7971
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW