Infantry Soldiers Deploy
By Christie Vanover
2/26/2003 5:59:44 PM
Fort Riley PAO
FORT RILEY, KAN. (Feb. 23, 2003)-Approximately 50 infantry soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division deployed Feb. 25 to support the President's global war on terrorism.
Lined up in desert camouflage uniforms and loaded down with weapons and equipment, the soldiers of 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry manifested on Custer Hill prior to departing Fort Riley.
"I'm a little sad because I'm leaving behind loved ones, but other than that, it's an experience I'm willing to take to fight for my country if I have to," said Spc. Kendall Smith, a soldier preparing to deploy.
During the manifest, soldiers weighed in and had one final inspection of their IDs, before they were briefed on their travel procedures.
"Because of terrorists, we've lost the freedom to carry nail clippers on a plane," one soldier said under his breath, after hearing the strict rules and regulations.
The soldiers were also told that any cell phones or pagers would be confiscated, so there were no more opportunities for goodbyes from loved ones. From this point forward, it was mission first.
However, the soldiers hadn't been told what that mission was or where they were deploying to, until they received their final farewell from Col. Russell Gold, the brigade commander.
He began his pep talk asking soldiers what they thought they represented. One soldier yelled, "Fort Riley," and another shouted out, "The Army, sir!"
"You represent this division. You represent this unit - your company and your platoon. You represent your families and your hometown, but most importantly your represent yourselves," he said boisterously.
"You guys are representing a lot. Go out there and do your best," he added.
The soldiers who were gathered around, half on bended knee with rifles in hand, responded with a vibrant "Hooah!"
"You're walking into history. You are the tip of the spear. Whatever happens, you're going to be in the history books. You're going to be a part of it," he continued. "I'm damn proud of you! Everybody is."
His remarks induced a sense of motivation among the troops. "He shed light on what we're going to be doing," said Spc. Josh Rodriguez. "Now we know what we're doing for sure."
"It's going to be difficult, but they picked us for a reason," he said. "Other people always know more about you than you know about yourself. If they think we can do it, we can do it!"
Their mission and final destination is still considered sensitive information that cannot be released to the public. To ensure their safe arrival, all that can be disclosed is that the unit is deploying to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which encompasses 25 nations located throughout the Horn of Africa, South and Central Asia and the Northern Red Sea regions, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq.
The majority of the soldiers just completed a six-month deployment in the region with Operation Desert Spring/Intrinsic Action from May-October. During the deployment in Kuwait Task Force Stalwart participated in a live-fire exercise and trained with allied troops.
After returning from the Kuwaiti deserts, they deployed to the Mojave Desert in California in January for a month-long live fire training exercise.
Rodriguez has only been in the Army for two years, and he deployed on each of the unit's recent desert missions.
"It's hard, but I signed up for this job. I love this job. I've done it for two years, and I've got 18 to go," he said.
Smith Agreed. "This is the best job in the Army."
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