7 minute read
The Citizen Soldiers of Mississippi
The Story of One Unit’s Deployment to Iraq
soldiers puts it, “Iraq is not Washington— I don’t think it has really hit me yet, but it was hard watching my husband leave.”
Colonel Robert Thomas, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander 66th Troop Command, commented that “these men and women are skilled professionals who understand their mission and will succeed in fulfilling it”. Typically a National Guard or Reserve unit will prepare and train for
By Lori Leffler, A-35 Committee Chair
Awaiting – I Miss Your Laughter, Your Smile, Your Voice And For Your Return I’ve Long Been Anticipating, For No Matter The Mile of Distance Between Us Forever For You . . . I’ll Be Waiting . . .
As the Department of Defense conducts Operation New Dawn with the drawdown in Iraq, it is important to remember that some of our nation’s finest men and women continue to serve and be deployed in this dangerous country. Included in these deployments are the Citizen Soldiers of the United States National Guard and Reserve. One National Guard unit is the Mississippi 1-204th Air Defense Artillery (1-204th ADA), headquartered in Newton, Mississippi, under the Command of LTC Don C. Ahshapenek. This battalion recently departed home, headed for Iraq, and is set to be away from loved ones, families, civilian jobs, and the safety of US soil for a year. The 1-204th ADA, trained in Air Defense Artillery, will protect Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). Per Major General Freemen, Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, this unit will have a very important Counter Rocket Artillery Mortar (C-RAM) mission—to shoot down rockets and mortars. Their expertise has been proven: this is not the first deployment for the 1-204th ADA. They have been in Washington, DC, on oneyear deployments twice since the 9-11 attacks, but as a wife of one of the deploying
14 | Defense Transportation Journal | Aug ust 2011 months before deploying. One young soldier commented that this might only be a one-year deployment but it is a two-year commitment considering all the preparation. LTC Ahshapenek is confident that the troops are prepared to carry out the mission because they have trained long and hard. He also recognizes the strength of the community. “The families, the communities here in Mississippi . . . that’s where our soldiers gain a lot. The support we’ve had this last year is magnificent. I want to thank them personally for all that they’ve done,” said LTC Ahshapenek.
Like countless Reserve and Guard units throughout the country, the 1-204th ADA operates from multiple armories within the state, in this case, located in Bay Springs, Newton, Morton, and Forest, Mississippi. These small communities and others like them throughout the states, will be without sons, brothers, dads, husbands, fiancés, moms, sisters, daughters, and friends. Their loved ones anxiously await their return, but everyone knows the importance of the mission and has unwavering support of their soldiers. The 1-204th ADA’s deployment began early for Mississippi’s Citizen Soldiers. Goodbyes were not the typical ones we see at civilian airports, but rather en masse, as troops gathered with loved ones before boarding special convoys of buses, some be
Charter Airlines play an important role in transporting the DOD’s Human Capital.
When the 1-204th ADA departed, they were met onboard the aircraft by a friendly crew who commented that they “enjoy working military charters.” Obtaining crews for these flights is an easy task because many flight attendants consider them an opportunity to serve those who serve our country. Airlines bid crew positions based on seniority and it is always senior crew who work military charters. The Logistics of moving troops is managed by TRANSCOM . The process has many components which require strong partnerships between the DOD and the airline industry. Not just any airline can transport troops. To become an approved carrier, airlines must pass FAA requirements plus DOD’s stringent safety, quality, and customer services requirements. Additionally, airlines must be part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and, even after approval; are inspected bi-annually including reviewing maintenance records and operation procedures. TRANSCOM continually evaluates charter airlines to ensure they are meeting on-time performance and meal quality standards; consequently military charters are expected to operate at the highest standards of safety and customer service.
It is the airlines responsibility to ensure military passengers receive service equal to economy class on regular scheduled flights. However, many airlines strive to offer better service. About twenty-five years ago, the meal requirement on a military charted flight was a piece of bread with butter and an egg. Now, the requirement is a meal comparable to one offered in economy class. Since meals are no longer offered in the cost of an airline ticket, soldiers receive meals better than those sold on scheduled flights. According to Rob Taylor, Managing Director, South
west Airlines, Southwest understands that typical military passengers set out many hours before flying. They drive to their deployment site, board buses, ride to the airport, wait to get on an aircraft and often wait in lines at their destination. So, their time on the airplane might be the only time to relax and eat. Military charters are unique in other ways including requiring exact weights of each soldier and ALL equipment. This required the 1-204th ADA to weigh each soldier and their items individually—this would never happen on a commercial airline flight. Additionally, not only does the DOD and industry work together, often competitors work together. This was the case with the 1-204th ADA. Baggage was loaded via a Delta conveyer; troops boarded by means of a Southwest stairway; and flew on a Sun Country Airplane. The DOD partner charter airlines value this business and the customer they serve which totaled over 1400 domestic trips and $130M during FY2010. As the world political scene changes it is unknown where airlines will carry US Troops in the future. However, one thing is certain, military charter airline personnel will continue to love what they do. As Rob Taylor, military charter specialist, says “Knowing what I do is going to have a direct impact on soldiers makes it easy to go the extra mile. I am happy to ask a caterer to tie a yellow ribbon around sandwiches when we are flying our nation’s finest home.”
The most exciting military charters are returns from deployment. Knowing their community and loved ones will be there waiting is truly rewarding. Mississippi 1-204th ADA soldiers—DOD charter carriers and your NDTA supporters look forward to your safe return.
fore dawn, to be sped directly to the flight line and awaiting aircraft. Everyone waved and cheered, yet felt melancholy as the buses departed, escorted by Patriot Guard Riders. Local citizens and flags lined the route; their pride and support were apparent. These soldiers are from small communities, and many of them have known each other their entire lives. They have shared life experiences and are now off to war together as a true “Band of Brothers and Sisters.” Every soldier who was asked stated that they are ready. Ready to fulfill their mission—but, they added, it is never easy leaving loved ones behind.
Pastor Steve Robinson of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Newton, Mississippi, thanked many of the deploying troops as he bought lunch for a restaurant full of unsuspecting soldiers and their families. Another supporter, Mr. David Pippen, a retired Senior Master Sergeant and local school teacher, watched 20 of his former students deploy. There were many tearful goodbyes as one officer held his sons face between his hands while telling him that he loved him and a soldier was told “Goodbye Big Papa, I love you”.
At their Farewell Ceremony, the troops recited the Soldier’s Creed as a unit. These men and women exemplify these words:
I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arts, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.
Every American Citizen should reflect on what our country stands for and our freedom by offering a thank you to those who
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SERVES LOW FARES TO MORE PLACES THAN EVER BEFORE
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