Preparation

Article courtesy Tom Gordon, Birmingham News

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/03/on_the_sixth_anniversary_of_th.html

Alabamians are serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars at a rate that is seven times the national average, military data show.

As the nation today marks the sixth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a total of 31,200 Alabamians have served in and around there and in Afghanistan. That's 68 out of every 10,000 Alabamians, compared with a national rate of 9 out of 10,000 Americans serving.

"Alabamians are willing to step up to the plate when it counts, you know," said Alabama Army Guard Maj. Gen. Joe Harkey, head of the 167th Theater Sustainment Command in Homewood. "I imagine if you ... looked at some older numbers in different type conflicts and events, I would venture to say they are probably close to the same."

Nearly 100 men and women with Alabama ties, most of them in the military, have died in the two wars. The first American to die in the war on terror was Mike Spann of Winfield, a CIA agent and former Marine who was killed Nov. 28, 2001, in Afghanistan.

The war in Afghanistan, given the corruption and ineffectiveness of the central government and the growing resurgence of the Taliban, is now drawing more U.S. resources, and Alabama Guard units will be part of that effort. Several hundred of the 1,600 Army Guard soldiers deploying this year should be in Afghanistan before the summer's end.

The state Army Guard's 166th Engineer Company is already training in Camp Atterbury, Ind., for an Afghan mission that will include building and maintaining military base camps and improving infrastructure in Afghan communities.

The 166th is part of the 877th Engineer Battalion, and many of its the company's 160 or so soldiers were in Iraq when the 877th was deployed in the northern city of Mosul from summer 2003 to spring 2004.

"Knowing where we're going, it's an entirely different environment both in terms of the terrain and the weather and how the enemy fights," said the 166th's commander, Maj. Lee Thompson.

A Cullman native and West Point graduate, Thompson, 31, also was in Iraq in 2003, as a fire support officer for B Troop, 3/7 Cavalry, in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division. The 3rd ID's 1st Brigade was the first unit to reach Baghdad in the U.S.-led invasion.

At Atterbury, Thompson said the training focus will be on the tactical: Preparing soldiers for situations where simple survival will be the goal.

"On active duty, in the type of unit that I was in, it was geared toward the combat role and we trained constantly for that," Thompson said. "And here, these guys are construction engineers or construction workers ... of all types and their focus in daily life is not necessarily on the tactical piece, and that's been the challenge."

In about a month, Thompson's wife, Lindsay, is due to give birth to their first child, a boy they will name Brennen. On March 2, he saw a lot of children, spouses and parents pack the armory at Winfield for the 166th's send-off ceremony.

"I think the American public is ... not necessarily accustomed to long, drawn-out fights or wars and everybody wants to get back to daily life and kind of forget about 9/11, and they just want to live and be happy," Thompson said.

"But I'll say it was evident when we left Winfield and when we had our going-away ceremony (that) there are a lot of folks who haven't forgotten. And from the soldiers' point of view, just knowing that they haven't been forgotten and what they're doing matters to people at home, is probably one of the most ... rewarding feelings that they can have."

Mobilization...A Soldier's Point of View

SPC Bailey Bullock
166th Engineer Company
2nd Platoon

"Mob Station"

The members of the 166th EN CO have spent more than the past 12 months in preparation for this deployment. Every drill weekend and the summer Annual Training where focused soley on the skills and training necessary for us to do the job and accomplish the mission that we have been given. The first part of that mission is Mobilization Station at Camp Atterbury, IN. It is where all of the pieces from the hours of preparation fall into place. But more than that, it is the beginning of our transition from civilian life to full time military life. Unfortunately, this transition means that we must all say goodbye to those we love and our lives at home, but it seems to me that this month helps us get used to that loss before we are faced with a completely foreign environment and a dangerous mission.

Now to the day to day of mobilization. The actual process consists of three areas: briefings and paperwork, medical screenings and checkups, and additional training. The briefings and paperwork started for us at 0530 the morning after we arrived. We had briefings on medical issues, education benefits, health insurance, wills and powers of attorney, sexual assault prevention, finances, suicide prevention, etc. The list goes on. The Army, it seems to me, wants to make sure that you have every piece of information you can possibly fit in your head.

The medical screenings and checkups begin and are a part of the paperwork phase. The two mesh together. This is probably the most frustrating part for most of members of the unit. It is tedious and, despite what some might think, no one wants to be sent home because of a medical issue. We all might not love the idea of going to a war zone, but we would rather go than to watch our buddies board the plane without us. Needless to say, many were nervous during this time because most people aren't in absolute perfect health and don't know what the Army might consider a "No-Go" issue. But, realistically, this is a necessary process because there are some with health problems that would prevent them from doing the mission. Even though we want them to go, and they want to be there with us, some problems would just get worse, hurting the soldier more and hindering the mission.

Our final stage at Mob Station was mission focused training, along with some general infantry training. The mission focused training consisted mostly of tactical convoy operations, with multiple tactics and scenarios that we need to know and will possibly face in country. We also trained on Entry Control Point operations, basic infantry tactics, and Radio operations and the coinciding ways to report different activities and requests over the radio. Most of this training was conducted in the field at a simulated Contingency Operating Location (COL), where we lived for a week-long period. Some of the training was a refresher for the unit, which had validated on many of these tactics at Pelham Range in Anniston, AL this past summer and winter. Despite some frustrations with the training cadre here at Camp Atterbury, our unit benefited from what we learned. Things we need to know are now fresh in our minds, and we have become more focused on the mission that is about to begin.

We will be leaving soon, and I believe we are ready. Our morale is high and our minds are focused. We know our mission and are eager to get started.

“Stolen Time”

Like many units that are deploying, other members of the 166th and I have been given four days leave at the end of our mobilization. Honestly, I wasn't sure that it would happen, having been told stories by buddies with previous deployments about promised leave that was either canceled or shortened at the last minute. I didn't get my hopes up.

But here I am, sitting in my house. Most of my buddies are at their homes with their friends and families, and we are probably feeling the same things. Loving the fact that we are home, spending time with the people we love, but also hating the fact that we have to leave again so soon. This time it will be for good.

Personally, the time at home has felt surreal. In many ways, it has been strange to go home and fall back into my normal routine, while knowing that in less than a week I will be on the other side of the world for a year. It doesn't quite seem real, but this feeling seems to be unavoidable. That's why it seems like stolen time. This leave time is different than the norm of our everyday lives at home, so it feels like we are just getting one last look at our daily lives before we leave. It will be hard to walk away, but I know we are all grateful to have been given the chance to be home again, even for a little while.

A Look Back...Our Departure Ceremony

Story and Photos Courtesy BlueStarSalute.org

Alabama Army National Guard continues to answer the Nation’s call to arms. Soldiers from the 166th Engineer Company of Winfield and Vernon left for training enroute to Afghanistan. Friends and family gathered at the Winfield armory to say farewell to the brave men and women who were departing. Before the ceremony began, Ethan Frye, 19, of Florence, Ala., performed “Army of One,” a song he wrote for his brother, Pfc. Bobb y Frye, and the other soldiers of the 166th Engineer Company. It was Ethan’s way of showing how much he cares for his brother and a way to say “thank you” to the Soldiers. “I have only one simple message,” said Maj. Lee Thompson, Company Commander: “Thank you! Thank you to the soldiers, thank you to the families, and thank you for all your support.” Maj.Gen. Abner C. Blalock, Alabama Adjutant General, and Brig. Gen. Sheryl E. Gordon, Commander of the 62nd Troop Command, also spoke about sacrifice. Winfield Mayor Wayne Silas, Tuscaloosa Veteran’s Affairs representative Michael Culver, Blue Star Salute representative retired Lt. Col. Glenn Nivens, members of the local Red Cross chapter, and many others showed their support by handing out gifts bags, gold coins, yellow crosses, books, and Blue Star Salute Banners.

Camp Atterbury...we HAVE arrived.

So, here we are. This fine NCO's expression says it all really, but we'll get to that in a minute.

All soldiers were present for duty on the morning of March 3rd. The Winfield armory was full of friends and family, awaiting the departure of the 4 buses that sat idling. Chaplain Mitch Nethery gathered everyone and formed a ring around the unit's soldiers, holding hands, and prayed for our safe return. He then stood in the doorway to hug each person. "I love you," spoken for every one who walked into the sunshine and crisp air.

The ride was fairly uneventful, but it seemed more than long enough for all of us. We were anxious to step off of them to draw our linens, eat dinner, shower, and receive our initial marching orders. It was 7:15am when we left Alabama and roughly 5:30pm when we arrived in Indiana. We were all just a little stiff.

As is the nature of any situation such as ours, the execution of our first day was a little less than smooth. We've received 4 additional NCO's from the Individual Ready Reserve, who are sure to bring a great deal to an already incredible team. Adding to our 158, we were sitting at 162 soldiers on day 1. That many people adds a great deal of variables to any situation; however, today's outcome had little to do with the 166th Engineer Company and more to do with changing requirements placed upon the mob station.

We woke at 0400, showered, shaved, and walked toward Building 722 and the Mess Hall to begin the day. It was roughly 10 degrees outside, and buses weren't available to alleviate a 1-mile stroll and chills that followed. Breakfast was excellent, but we found that there was a miscommunication about a change in the schedule. Our in-brief wouldn't begin until 7am. Go figure.

At 1030, with eye-lids drooping, we walked out to begin the medical and dental in-processing. What's that? We can't begin until 1:00pm? Okay, back to the barracks! Lunch-time!!

There's a relatively strict process in place for this portion of mobilization, and we found it's slowed quite a bit when competing with the unplanned arrival of soldiers returning from deployment. They have priority - and rightly so. Nonetheless, it made for a confusing afternoon for us all. Add to that the requirement that 122 soldiers receive an additional hearing exam, and you find yourself far behind where you'd initially expected to be by the end of the day.

Regardless, it was a good exercise in patience for us all. In a way, it's probably best to have had a day like today at the outset. It can only get better! Bottom line, though: so far so good!! Tomorrow's another day.