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Graphics & Multimedia
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Staff
Sgt. Donnell Clark, HHB, 1st Bn., 7th ADA, does a final check
on the vehicles at station five. Clark checks for shipping labels
and inspects the vehicles for leaks, cleanliness and a properly
secured load.
STORY
AND PHOTOS BY
SGT. JAMES MONTOYA
"No
Fear" soldiers began moving vehicles through five stations in
the movement preparation area Monday at the 1st Bn., 7th ADA motor
pool in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
"We have to be on point on everything," said Sgt. Hector Luevanos,
lightwheel mechanic, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st
Bn., 7th ADA.
Luevanos
checked the tie down points, tire pressure, and the cleanliness
of the vehicles at station two. If the vehicle had any faults
it went back to the unit or to station three for direct support
if they can fix the fault on the spot.
"We're going off Air Force regulations so these vehicles can be
air loaded," Luevanos said.
For
many soldiers, like Pfc. Marcus Cooper, patriot missile maintainer
operator, E Battery, 1st Bn., 7th ADA, this will be their first
deployment.
"I expect to work hard, get this job done,and
come home safe," Cooper said.
Cooper
was busy taking his heavy expandable military tactical trailer
through station four.
"I'm prepping them for departure," said Spc. Vester Parker, petroleum
supply specialist, D Battery, 1st Bn., 7th ADA.
Parker
made sure the fuel tanks were between a half and three-quarters
full at the fuel and de-fuel point.
"This
is where the rubber meets the road and where we earn our money,"
said Staff Sgt. Donnell Clark, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery,
1st Bn, 7th ADA.
Clark
ran the fifth and final station in the marshalling area. "The
moral of the soldiers is great," Clark said. "We're getting the
job done."
As
this task neared completion, the soldiers of 1st Bn., 7th ADA
prepare for whatever might come next in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
"My soldiers are highly motivated and ready to take on the task
at hand, whatever the mission may be," said 1st Sgt. Mark Patrick,
E Btry., 1st Bn., 7th ADA.
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Spc.
Will Shomaker, patriot maintainer operator, B Battery, 1st
Bn., 7th ADA, gets his heavy expandable military tactical
trailer ready for inspection at station two.
Spc.
Vester Parker, petroleum supply specialist, D Battery, 1st
Bn., 7th ADA, goes through the predeployment vehicle inspection
checklist. Parker manned station four to fuel or defuel
the military vehicles that went through the MPA.
Parker
checks the level of fuel on a HEMTT. The fuel level has
to be between a half a tank and three-quarters of a tank
to be acceptable for an air load.
Sgt.
Hector Luevanos, lightwheel mechanic, Headquarters and Head-quarters
Battery, 1st Bn., 7th
ADA, checks to see if vehicles are clean, tie-down points
are operational and tire pressure is normal. Luevanos checked
all vehicles that came through station two for 1st Bn.,
7th ADA.
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Spc.
Sergio Magallanez, Spc. Erick Villa, Spc. Jimmie Gonzalez,
Staff Sgt. Vincent Perkins, and Spc. Miguel Trujillo, of
the 263rd Quarter-master Company, volunteered for a mission
to Southwest Asia.
Reserve
quartermasters volunteer for duty in Southwest Asia
Sgt.
Nikki Agee
5035th GSU
They
are the few and the proud, but they aren't Marines - they
are Army Reservists from the 263rd Quartermaster Company.
And when the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C.
requested laundry and bath support for a mission in Southwest
Asia, five reservists from the company volunteered to go.
Staff
Sgt. Vincent E. Perkins, Spc. Sergio Magallanez, Spc. Erick
D. Villa, Spc. Jimmie Gonzalez and Spc. Miguel A. Trujillo
will report to Fort Bliss Feb. 3 before leaving to Fort
Bragg.
"I
wanted to volunteer because I wanted to give something back
to my country," said Villa, 21, who works as a security
officer for Providence Memorial Hospital and who has served
in the reserve unit for almost three years.
Magallanez,
20, an Echostar employee, had a similar reason for wanting
to go: "Soldiers out there are defending our country. I
wanted to go help."
The
five laundry and bath specialists said they learned of the
opportunity to go to Southwest Asia during their November
drill, when their first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Raul Lopez, asked
for volunteers. Perkins, Trujillo and Gonzalez, from the
company's bath section, and Villa and Magallanez, from the
laundry section all raised their hands.
"The unit contacted us before Christmas and told us we had
been called to active-duty," said Perkins, 38, who served
in the unit for three years. "I was surprised that they
called us so quick, but at the same time, I was happy and
excited. Once we volunteered, and the unit came and notified
us, we had a three-minute option to commit ourselves. The
decision was made then and there. Everyone that volunteered
stood by their decisions."
In making their decisions, however, the soldiers had to
quickly consider many factors.
"In
any decision, you have to consider how it affects others
that are involved - your job, your family. You have to take
all that into consideration," said Perkins. "My family has
been in the Army, so they understand and they are very supportive.
Although they are a little afraid, they still support me
and wish me well."
Villa
said his family had also been supportive.
"When
I went to AIT, my family didn't want me to go," he said.
"This time, they are supporting me because they want me
to know that they are supporting me 100 percent of the way.
For me, it's a big thing," Villa said.
Trujillo,
22, a Wal-Mart employee, said his family supported him but
was concerned.
"They're afraid something will happen to me. They're afraid
of what's happening right now," he said.
Gonzalez,
20, also an employee at Echostar, summed up his response,
saying, "We've got to get over our fears and do what we've
got to do."
The
soldiers said the technical training they received during
AIT, their monthly drills, their annual training, and their
rotations at the Joint Readiness Training Center helped
prepare them for their mission in Southwest Asia, although
they still face some uncertainties.
"Mentally,
you have to get prepared in every single way," Villa said,
"You don't know what you'll be facing."
"I
still look forward to going," Perkins said. "I'm proud to
be chosen to go. The mental toughness will help me to perform
my mission to the best of my abilities in any environment."
1st
Sgt. Lopez said he is proud of them. "They volunteered.
They did something no one else wanted to do. I admire the
guys for doing it," he said.
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Master Sgt.
George Johansen, with the help of Pvt. Michael Harrison, demonstrates
the proper way to detain a person posing a potential threat.
Trained
to fight
11th
ADA takes predeployment measures
STORY AND
PHOTOS BY SPC. MARK MIRANDA
11TH ADA BDE. PAO
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The
ever-present question of "when?" looms over the heads of
11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade soldiers awaiting movement
orders. For some the question was answered Jan. 16, as a
group from the brigade left in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom. Another group is tentatively scheduled to leave
within the week.
In the meantime, the rest of the "Imperial" 11th Brigade
continues to train and make all necessary predeployment
arrangements.
Anthrax
shots given Nov. 21 were part of a week-long schedule that
included force-protection classes at Tobin Wells, weapons
requalification at McGregor Range and Nuclear, Biological
and Chemical lane training. Unit medics were also tasked
to give classes on giving immediate care for casualties.
"What I want to do is familiarize soldiers with some basic
first-aid skills that they'll need to know to help their
buddies in combat in case they become injured," said Staff
Sgt. Barry Dailey.
From
this particular class, soldiers were instructed on evaluating
a casualty, controlling bleeding and treating other injuries,
such as burns and fractures.
Predeployment
briefings were given on the rules of engagement from the
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, outlining specifically
when the use of deadly force is authorized.
"A
lot of times, the rules are not given until there is a threat.
The rules change constantly, but they become easier as things
escalate," said Capt. Darwin Strickland.
Other
classes on cultural awareness and media awareness were held
in Stayton Theater for several batteries Jan. 22.
An
Area of Operations Region Brief was given by the brigade
intelligence office to familiarize soldiers with Kuwait,
as several of those in attendance have never been to the
Middle East.
"Threat
conditions are high, it's important to keep a low profile
when you're over there," said Capt. Georgette Romo, citing
recent incidents in which service members have been attacked.
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Spc.
Evelyn Argueta shows the proper way to treat bleeding
wounds.
Staff
Sgt. George Schmidt conducts a training session to refamiliarize
soldiers with their protective masks and nuclear, biological
and chemical suits.
"I'm
taking away a lot from these classes, especially on the
different cultures," said Spc. Hilary Smith, an administration
specialist. "A lot of this is interesting, and they're
addressing some of the concerns I had," Smith added.
In order to prepare the brigade's families for deployment,
a family readiness group meeting was held at Sage Hall
Jan. 23 to address several questions or concerns that
soldiers and family members had about finances, housing,
family care and other help resources.
The
affectionate name of "Dirty 30" was given to a group awaiting
departure scheduled tentatively for this week - but that
number has grown to include additional soldiers.
"Some
of us that are in this group are the 14 Juliets - in layman
terms, the radar guys. You won't see rockets flying overhead
when we're on the job. We're also bringing along some
of our personnel in intelligence," said Pfc. Jerry Haskins
from Headquarters Battery, 11th ADA Bde.
Throughout
the week, other predeployment measures taken include more
soldiers switching to the tan desert camouflage uniform,
checking bags to ensure the appropriate equipment is packed
and continuing load operations of equipment onto rail
cars
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