Photo By Ronald A. Reeves | Lt. Col. Leslie Templin, 489th Engineer Battalion commander and Capt. Joshua...... read more read more
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The 704th Engineer Company from Hot Springs, Ark., heads to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will train to perform route clearance missions in the Afghanistan theater of operations.
Speaking to a full auditorium of family and others on hand to honor the deploying soldiers, 704th Engineer Company Commander Joshua Yarbrough said, “A lot of people hear on the news about roadside bombs and IEDs - improvised explosive devices - that’s our mission; that’s what we do. We’re the guys that find those to keep them from getting everybody else.”
While at Fort Bliss, 704th soldiers will be tested, evaluated and their training validated by U.S. First Army. Training there is held in an environment similar to Afghanistan, with a higher elevation.
Earlier this year from May 4-26, the 704th trained at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., in the Mohave Desert. There, the 704th established an assembly area. They practiced internal defense procedures and trained on various weapons.
While at NTC, the soldiers received training on route clearance procedures, using the Talon Robot, a miniature bulldozer-like, radio-controlled vehicle. Other specific training prepared 704th soldiers to play a vital role while serving in Afghanistan.
“I have seen them train and prepare for this mission. They have developed as a team and they are ready,” said Lt. Col. Leslie Templin, commander of the 704th’s higher headquarters, the 489th Engineer Battalion from Little Rock, Ark.
Templin added, “In the coming months, the 704th will write the next chapter of human history. I know that you are ready. I’m looking forward to hearing all the stories.”
Yarbrough praised family and loved ones who crowded the auditorium at Jonathan M Cheatham Army Reserve Center in Hot Springs, Ark. by saying, “We are an Army family. Support is available for you. There will be a rear detachment working full time in Hot Springs and a family readiness group. We will work on getting communication out to your family.”
Once in Afghanistan, the 704th Engineer Company will partner with Spain, Italy and Afghan National Army and Police forces, according to Yarbrough.
Yarbrough, speaking about Afghan civilians, said: “Just like us, they have families, lives and children as well. And one of our primary missions is to make sure that they can drive safely down the road and they can build their nation.”
Yarbrough said he was encouraged that the Afghans are stepping up to provide route clearance and that they are conducting explosive ordinance detail missions.
“It’s something that we’ll do with pride. This is our calling; it’s our profession,” said the captain. With his fellow 704th soldiers in formation, he told the crowd, “You might find it hard to understand why your soldier seems kind of eager to go, why they’re excited to go into harm’s way, why they feel obligated to complete this. It is a brotherhood.”
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2012 20:23 |
| Story ID: | 97670 |
| Location: | HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 695 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 704th Engineer Company holds send-off ceremony prior to Afghanistan tour, by Ronald A. Reeves, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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