I was fortunate enough to be invited to take part in the Texas Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Bosslift to Ft. Bliss. Bosslift is a program to bring awareness to employers as to what the Reservists and National Guardsmen go through when they are called up for active duty. The soldiers nominate their boss to attend the event. It is a chance for employers to actually spend time with their employees as they go through training. Below is my account of roughly 36 hours with the members of the 72nd Combat Infantry Brigade Team (IBC Team).
It's early Thursday morning at Ellington Field. As the C-130 taxied to the terminal, its sheer size was apparent against the backdrop of personal planes and fighter jets. As we boarded the plane, we were given ear plugs. Just to get the magnitude of the engines, I left mine out until we took off. Wheels up at 8:57 and we were on our way for the 2:15 minute flight to Ft. Bliss. 30 minutes in, we were allowed to go up to the flight deck for 15 minutes to visit and snap photos. The crew was quite accommodating and let us walk around to look at the flight deck and take pictures. On comedic note, the creativity of the flight engineer was comical. He was eating yogurt with chopsticks as he did not have a spoon.
At 11:09, it's wheels down in Ft. Bliss. After a quick meet and greet, it's on the bus to McGregor Range in New Mexico. We pulled up some 45 minutes later and started a non-stop tour of the facilities. The base is set up to resemble the conditions the soldiers will experience complete with the Muslim prayer calls in the afternoon over the PA.
Our first stop was lunch with the troops then on to the Detainee Operations Training Lane where soldiers go through an intense 19 day course covering unarmed self-defense, riot control, and close confinement operations. They are taught the use non-lethal force including tasers, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) pepper spray, rubber bullets, etc. And yes all soldiers experience the taser and OC spray. The detainees are roll players that do their job very well. We observed a mock riot while visiting on Thursday. As this area is considered sensitive, we were not allowed to take pictures, but I do indeed have the images in my head. There detainee areas mirror those in use in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is lots of razor wire, guard towers and high fencing.
Our second stop was the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) lane. This is the area where the soldiers are taught to recognize the various types of IEDs in use. We also were able to see various examples of the IEDs in use and current counter measures to aid in detonating the devices. They had everything from suicide bomber vests to thermal IEDs that go off on heat detection. And yes we did hear a few booms while they were training.
Our next stop of the day was the Medic Training lane. This area was quite intense. There are two side-by-side buildings with one set up with advanced robotics that can simulate common battle field injuries. The injuries can be changed on the fly if the proper treatment is not applied. Anything from collapsed lungs to lost limbs can be simulated. The room is totally dark and extremely loud to simulate battlefield conditions. All they have is the light from the helmet light. Additionally, there is a woman moving around simulating real world conditions. I was in the other side watching via infra red cameras. Quite amazing it was.
From there, it was over to the language lab to run through some of the programs used to teach basic Arabic. They teach three different levels depending on your role. We actually ran through some of the computer training and learned a few things. We also received a copy of the Iraqi Basic Language Survival Guide, which is given to all soldiers.
From there it was over to the "party". Some local businesses funded a block party for the troops. Two local bands provide the entertainment, and Fuddruckers catered some fine cheeseburgers and fries. After a few hours of visiting, we boarded the bus for the ride back to the motel for the night. And that was just day one.
Friday morning we gathered at 630 in the lobby of the hotel for a quick overview of the latest body armor worn by the troops. Next it off to breakfast at Ft. Bliss then back on the bus for McGregor Range. Our first stop is the Combat Life Saver (CLS) lane. This is the area where the troops are taught first response skills to asses and stabilize injured soldiers. They simulate a helicopter crash or IED attack and react accordingly. The exercise starts with boom when they pop smoke. From there, they go through the process of extracting the mock injured to a safe area then asses the injuries. Very interesting.
We then left there to head back to the Detainee Operations area for a more in depth walking tour. We were up close and personal to watch some of the training. After the tour, we had lunch at the mess hall and spent some time with troops. After chow, I stood up and just looked around the hall for a bit and was trying to really take in what was going on. I took a walk outside to get quiet for a minute and absorb the feelings. As I looked at the soldiers, I was thinking about how many significant changes they must being dealing with in their lives. Remember, these soldiers are National Guard and Reservists. They were not full-time military but are for now. For some, this is their first deployment and for others, their third. They will get a four day pass then will be deploying in about three weeks.
It was time to get back on bus to head home on the C-130. Wheels up at 1:50 mountain time and we are on our way home. The key word in the previous sentence is home. I was on my way to “my home and my bed.” As I sat there on the plane, I started writing this narrative on my Blackberry. I took a minute to look around the plane at our group. We were all tired, dusty from walking the training lanes, had sore legs from walking and standing, some were sleeping and some just looking off and I presume reflecting on the last 36 hours as I was doing. There were active duty soldiers, executives, prison guards, business owners, policemen, one gentleman that is a store manager for Walmart and has been with them for 21 years and some veterans. We also had a photojournalist from the Houston Chronicle and two reporters from the CBS affiliate in Beaumont. There were also two people from Center Point. There were many others and then there was Dr. Joe and me, Rodney Williams from the Salute to Our Troop Task Force. We were from different backgrounds, but for 36 short hours we were all the same: American Citizens supporting our American Soldiers.
As I close I sit here reflecting on how 36 short hours changed my life. I was just a visitor in a world that some live 7x24. Things that seemed so important or significant to me just aren’t anymore. I left some “things’ in the sands of McGregor that needed to be left, and I brought back some new things that will be with me from now on. As Robin put it when I was describing the feeling to her, “now you get it.”
To the 72nd IBC, ESGR, and soldiers at Ft. Bliss and McGregor Range, I say shukran (thank you in Arabic).
Rodney Williams
It's early Thursday morning at Ellington Field. As the C-130 taxied to the terminal, its sheer size was apparent against the backdrop of personal planes and fighter jets. As we boarded the plane, we were given ear plugs. Just to get the magnitude of the engines, I left mine out until we took off. Wheels up at 8:57 and we were on our way for the 2:15 minute flight to Ft. Bliss. 30 minutes in, we were allowed to go up to the flight deck for 15 minutes to visit and snap photos. The crew was quite accommodating and let us walk around to look at the flight deck and take pictures. On comedic note, the creativity of the flight engineer was comical. He was eating yogurt with chopsticks as he did not have a spoon.
At 11:09, it's wheels down in Ft. Bliss. After a quick meet and greet, it's on the bus to McGregor Range in New Mexico. We pulled up some 45 minutes later and started a non-stop tour of the facilities. The base is set up to resemble the conditions the soldiers will experience complete with the Muslim prayer calls in the afternoon over the PA.
Our first stop was lunch with the troops then on to the Detainee Operations Training Lane where soldiers go through an intense 19 day course covering unarmed self-defense, riot control, and close confinement operations. They are taught the use non-lethal force including tasers, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) pepper spray, rubber bullets, etc. And yes all soldiers experience the taser and OC spray. The detainees are roll players that do their job very well. We observed a mock riot while visiting on Thursday. As this area is considered sensitive, we were not allowed to take pictures, but I do indeed have the images in my head. There detainee areas mirror those in use in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is lots of razor wire, guard towers and high fencing.
Our second stop was the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) lane. This is the area where the soldiers are taught to recognize the various types of IEDs in use. We also were able to see various examples of the IEDs in use and current counter measures to aid in detonating the devices. They had everything from suicide bomber vests to thermal IEDs that go off on heat detection. And yes we did hear a few booms while they were training.
Our next stop of the day was the Medic Training lane. This area was quite intense. There are two side-by-side buildings with one set up with advanced robotics that can simulate common battle field injuries. The injuries can be changed on the fly if the proper treatment is not applied. Anything from collapsed lungs to lost limbs can be simulated. The room is totally dark and extremely loud to simulate battlefield conditions. All they have is the light from the helmet light. Additionally, there is a woman moving around simulating real world conditions. I was in the other side watching via infra red cameras. Quite amazing it was.
From there, it was over to the language lab to run through some of the programs used to teach basic Arabic. They teach three different levels depending on your role. We actually ran through some of the computer training and learned a few things. We also received a copy of the Iraqi Basic Language Survival Guide, which is given to all soldiers.
From there it was over to the "party". Some local businesses funded a block party for the troops. Two local bands provide the entertainment, and Fuddruckers catered some fine cheeseburgers and fries. After a few hours of visiting, we boarded the bus for the ride back to the motel for the night. And that was just day one.
Friday morning we gathered at 630 in the lobby of the hotel for a quick overview of the latest body armor worn by the troops. Next it off to breakfast at Ft. Bliss then back on the bus for McGregor Range. Our first stop is the Combat Life Saver (CLS) lane. This is the area where the troops are taught first response skills to asses and stabilize injured soldiers. They simulate a helicopter crash or IED attack and react accordingly. The exercise starts with boom when they pop smoke. From there, they go through the process of extracting the mock injured to a safe area then asses the injuries. Very interesting.
We then left there to head back to the Detainee Operations area for a more in depth walking tour. We were up close and personal to watch some of the training. After the tour, we had lunch at the mess hall and spent some time with troops. After chow, I stood up and just looked around the hall for a bit and was trying to really take in what was going on. I took a walk outside to get quiet for a minute and absorb the feelings. As I looked at the soldiers, I was thinking about how many significant changes they must being dealing with in their lives. Remember, these soldiers are National Guard and Reservists. They were not full-time military but are for now. For some, this is their first deployment and for others, their third. They will get a four day pass then will be deploying in about three weeks.
It was time to get back on bus to head home on the C-130. Wheels up at 1:50 mountain time and we are on our way home. The key word in the previous sentence is home. I was on my way to “my home and my bed.” As I sat there on the plane, I started writing this narrative on my Blackberry. I took a minute to look around the plane at our group. We were all tired, dusty from walking the training lanes, had sore legs from walking and standing, some were sleeping and some just looking off and I presume reflecting on the last 36 hours as I was doing. There were active duty soldiers, executives, prison guards, business owners, policemen, one gentleman that is a store manager for Walmart and has been with them for 21 years and some veterans. We also had a photojournalist from the Houston Chronicle and two reporters from the CBS affiliate in Beaumont. There were also two people from Center Point. There were many others and then there was Dr. Joe and me, Rodney Williams from the Salute to Our Troop Task Force. We were from different backgrounds, but for 36 short hours we were all the same: American Citizens supporting our American Soldiers.
As I close I sit here reflecting on how 36 short hours changed my life. I was just a visitor in a world that some live 7x24. Things that seemed so important or significant to me just aren’t anymore. I left some “things’ in the sands of McGregor that needed to be left, and I brought back some new things that will be with me from now on. As Robin put it when I was describing the feeling to her, “now you get it.”
To the 72nd IBC, ESGR, and soldiers at Ft. Bliss and McGregor Range, I say shukran (thank you in Arabic).
Rodney Williams
Mr Williams,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your taking the time to visit our Soldiers. They were proud to show you what they do.
COL Mark Campsey
Rod,
ReplyDeleteVery Impressive. Thanks for chronicling this and passing it along. As usual we never really appreciate the sacrifice and preparation that these brave men and women endure to allow the rest of us to maintain our idyllic lifestyles. We take so very much for granted. A heartfelt Thank you goes out to our soldiers from me and my family for all that they do. I will always admire their dedication and commitment to the principles that made us a great nation.
Mark Halleck