Photo By Maj. Jessica Jackson | Members of the 883rd Route Clearance Company pack their tough boxes to be inspected by...... read more read more
ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – After a yearlong deployment, members of the 883rd Route Clearance Company are departing Afghanistan and heading home.
After a yearlong deployment, members of the 883rd Route Clearance Company are departing Afghanistan and heading home.
The return home comes as a welcome event as the soldiers are ready to get back to their loved ones.
“It was difficult missing the birth of my daughter, but I’m ready to get home to be with my family,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Essic, 883rd supply sergeant as he expressed his eagerness to get home to his wife and newborn daughter.
“The 883rd Spartans did a remarkable job this year and I couldn’t have asked for more,” said U.S. Army Capt. James McVeigh, 883rd RCC commander. “We had the typical learning pains that most units endure in the first few days, but the Spartans continued to learn the battle space, the enemy, and improve equipment readiness to exceed standards I set.”
Clearing hundreds of routes and finding numerous improvised explosive devices, the Spartans have ensured the safety of countless local nationals and follow-on forces. The effects of their mission contributed to the preservation of life. While the unit managed to bring everyone home safely, the deployment was not without its trials.
“Our first injuries were due to an accident in a wrecker vehicle rollover,” McVeigh said. “That event enforced standards. It was a wakeup call for that platoon as well as the company that things can and will happen.” McVeigh continued that their first IED strike resulted in one soldier suffering from mild traumatic brain injury, however he recovered well.
The road home for the Spartans includes training their replacement units. The 883rd was given the opportunity to not only train one, but two units; the 151st Engineer Company and 870th Engineer Company, on route clearance within their area of operations.
“I suggested the incoming units follow the same [tactics, techniques and procedures] that we’d emplaced to start with,” McVeigh said. “However, each [route clearance package] will have its own set of challenges as far as maintenance requirements. The units really came in eager to learn and I feel they’re in great shape to continue the mission.”
U.S. Army Capt. Thomas Grabos, 151st En. Company commander, agreed with the advice given to him by the outgoing commander.
“We will continue on with what the 883rd has set in place. We have to continue to improve our foxhole,” Grabos said.
Although, the hours were long and the days seemed to run together, soldiers expressed that the deployment was a rewarding experience.
“A few of us had completely different expectations on what our operational tempo would be or what was to be expected,” McVeigh said. “However, most of the Spartans concluded this tour with a sense of accomplishment and pride for our unit statistics, the progress we made with the 2/205th [Afghan National Army Route Clearance Company] and the relationships we were able to build along the way.”
The Spartan spirit will continue to live on here in Afghanistan as their replacements continue to “clear the way.”
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2012 07:23 |
| Story ID: | 94180 |
| Location: | ZABUL PROVINCE, AF |
| Hometown: | WEST POINT, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Hometown: | WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 512 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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