Iraq-bound Soldiers receive new equipment via Rapid Fielding Initiative
By Sgt. Joshua Salmons
April 26, 2005
FORT HOOD, Texas (Army News Service, April 26, 2005) -- New equipment is being issued under the Rapid Fielding Initiative for 4th Infantry Division Soldiers preparing to head back to Iraq.
The RFI equipment is being issued to more than 16,000 Soldiers in the six brigades of the 4th Inf. Div. and the division’s Special Troops Battalion. The RFI issue at Fort Hood took place April 2 – 22. Soldiers of the division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., were scheduled to begin receiving their gear this week.
RFI actually began during Operation Enduring Freedom when several units, including the 82nd Airborne, 10th Mountain, and 101st Airborne Divisions were successfully outfitted with the new gear. Current plans call for fielding to the total Army by September 2007.
“The Soldiers are getting top-of-the-line equipment,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, 4th Infantry Division, “so when we go back to the fight, they will have the best equipment available.
“RFI is a direct result of feedback from Soldiers who have been there on the battlefield, and it is gear that has been determined necessary by the Soldiers themselves.”
The process of issuing the RFI gear has been a success due to the extensive coordination prior to issuing the equipment, said Sgt. Maj. Jurgen Williams, division G-4.
“The biggest challenge was identifying what equipment was needed for the (combat teams) verses support, aviation and the other units,” said Williams.
The 2nd BCT was the first unit at Hood to draw the RFI Soldier kit, with each Soldier receiving an estimated $1,500 of new equipment.
“The 2nd BCT was sort of the guinea pigs, but they came in, picked up their stuff and left; that set the tone for the smooth operation,” said Williams.
The goal of the RFI program is to provide Soldiers with the finest state-of-the-art individual and small-unit equipment in order to save lives, improve the quality of life, and increase combat effectiveness, according to Col. Thomas Bryant, officer in charge of Program Executive Office Soldier, the organization responsible for developing the new gear.
Aside from the RFI program goal, the operations at Hood were also focused on the Soldier.
“RFI is all about customer service,” said Bryant. “(To ensure proper equipment fit,) they are individually sized right here.”
The emphasis on customer service, said Riling, paid huge dividends in the success of the mission.
“They have bent over backwards to help this division and get this stuff done the right way,” he said. “Any time we called and needed to make changes, they were always flexible – their people were always there and always had smiles on their faces.”
On-site fitting will ensure the new equipment will be used properly, and the Soldiers will feel comfortable.
“We don’t make anybody take anything that doesn’t fit,” said Chuck Cooley, team leader, RFI team 3. “We don’t care if it takes 50 pairs of boots, we want to make sure you get the pair you need.”
The chance to try on the equipment was appreciated by the Soldiers.
“It was great that they let me try it out — actually let me wear it,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Cambell, a 4th Forward Support Battalion Soldier. “Every thing is a little lighter, a little more field friendly.”
The infamous no-polish-needed temperate and hot-weather Army combat boots were just two of the many pieces of equipment each Soldier received.
“These will be a lot easier to break in,” said Pfc. Maria Fajardo, a 4th Forward Support Battalion Soldier, as she tried on her new footgear. “I’ll love wearing these in the desert rather than the regular boots.”
The advanced combat helmet was another favorite of the Soldiers. It boasts a lighter weight, new padding system, and a more open field-of-view.
“After 14 years of wearing the old Kevlar, the one thing I noticed right away is that it’s very comfortable,” said Capt. Hayden Joseph, commander, Company B, 4th Spt. Bn. “It feels like there’s more open space; it’ll help with vision.”
The new Army combat uniform, which will replace the battle dress uniform, was not issued during this phase of RFI but will be issued to Soldiers in June, said Williams.
The coordination and teamwork involved that led to the success of the 4th Infantry Division’s RFI issue was a direct result of the leadership and mentorship exhibited by the division’s leaders and Soldiers, said Riling.
“We look forward to sharing our lessons learned with the other divisions,” he said, “so they will be just as successful as we were.
“As the division sergeant major, I want to thank the division’s Soldiers and leaders for making the RFI issue such a success. I’d also like to say thanks to the fine professionals of PEO-Soldier who were true professionals and great team players.”
(Editor’s note: Sgt. Joshua Salmons serves with 4th Spt. Bn. PAO, 4ID.)
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