1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Prepares Equipment Jan 2008

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Regulars Prepare Equipment for Iraq 2008

January 2008

Forward Support Company ensures deployment excellence,
Regulars Battalion prepares equipment for Iraq

1-22 Inf. Regt.

1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

FORT HOOD, Texas – For deploying units, ensuring property reaches its destination can be one of the most frustrating
and busiest times of the year. For the Soldiers of Forward Support Company E, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, preparing equipment for deployment to Iraq went much smoother than anticipated.

Despite various delays and setbacks, the “Eliminators” of FSC E, 1-22 Inf. Regt, shipped more than 60 pieces
of mission-essential equipment, Jan. 18-28, while assisting and supporting the rest of the battalion during its deployment process,
said 1st Lt. Brian Kalaher, a platoon leader assigned to FSC E.

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Soldiers of Company E, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, prepare an M9 Armored Combat Earthmover to be loaded on a rail car, Jan. 18,
during movement operations at the Fort Hood’s Rail Operations Center.
The company spearheaded the Regulars Battalion’s efforts to prepare and load its equipment
for the 1st BCT deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brent Williams, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.)

“I’ve never seen a single battalion that was able to get all their (shipping containers) packed and inspected so smoothly and efficiently,”
said Tom Wells, a representative for the Directorate of Logistics.

On average, a battalion requires days to pack and seal containers,
but the Soldiers of the 1-22 Inf. Regt. were able to complete the task in four hours, said Wells.

“It wasn’t easy, but we were able to get it done,” said 1st Lt. Harry Mars IV, executive officer, FSC E.

Maj. Matthew Fath, executive officer of 1-22 Inf. Regt., oversaw the “Regulars” Battalion’s deployment process.

Pleased with the results, Fath was also proud to hear the civilians as they praised the level of preparation and execution.

“It wasn’t easy for the Regulars,” Fath said. “The Battalion had just redeployed from the field from a seven-day field problem,
where they continued a rigorous train-up in preparation for their upcoming deployment.”

The Eliminators’ Soldiers spearheaded the battalion’s efforts and worked around the clock in order to ensure mission success, explained Kalaher.

“A support company accounts for roughly half of the entire battalion’s deployable equipment,” he said.
“Making sure that such a large amount of equipment was all packed and sealed in accordance with Fort Hood regulations was no easy feat.”

In addition to packing and sealing their own property, the Eliminators were also responsible for providing movement and fuel assets,
maintenance support, and providing soup and coffee to combat the chilly temperatures.

When plans for movement assets fell through, the Soldiers sprang into action and moved most of the battalion’s containers to the railhead site, said Kalaher.

“If they had not been able to do this, there is no way the rest of the battalion would have been able to meet their stringent deadlines,”
Kalaher explained. “The unwavering sense of duty and an intense desire to succeed of the Eliminator Soldiers
gave company leadership the opportunity to focus on future operations.”

The Soldiers of FSC E will take that same drive and motivation to Iraq, and continue to excel as they support the “Regulars” mission, said Kalaher.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Spc. Blake Colson, infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division stands in front of
an M1120 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck-Load Handling System with Container Handling Unit
that was instrumental in ensuring deployment success. The Soldiers of Forward Support Company E, 1-22 Inf. Regt.,
were responsible for shipping more than 60 pieces of mission-essential to the Fort Hood Rail Operations Center,
Jan. 18-28, in preparation for the unit’s deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

(U.S. Army photo courtesy of 1-22 Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.)

BACK