Transportation Detachment Volunteers Prepare for Iraq

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Houx | Master Sgt. Kenneth Anderson, the acting first sergeant for the 590th transportation detachment, practiced intravenous infusion July 23, 2008, on Sgt. Paul Acosia, a movement control non-commissioned officer for the detachment. The 590th completed the combat life saver course as part of their pre-mobilization training at Camp Atterbury before deploying to Iraq.  

CAMP ATTERBURY, UNITED STATES

07.18.2008

Story by Spc. Elizabeth Houx 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

By Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind., -- "If you go, I go," said Spc. Brian Johnson to his "battle buddy" Spc. Lakeisha Gladden.

"Gladden is my battle buddy," said Johnson. "We have the same military occupational specialty and are from the same unit. We've learned and trained together. She's got my back and I've got her back so it only makes sense that we deploy together."

Johnson and Gladden, who are embarking on their first career deployments, are among the 21 National Guard Soldiers who came together from units in North and South Carolina for the 590th Transportation Detachment's deployment to Iraq in August.

Gladden, a transportation management coordinator for the 590th, said initially when they were told their home unit's 2009 deployment got cancelled, they turned to the 590th, which was deploying and looking for volunteers.

"...And the rest is kind of history," said Gladden. "Now we are here training to go to Iraq."

Sgt. Paul Acosia, a movement control non-commissioned officer in the 590th, said that even though the Soldiers are new to each other, bonds are already being made.

"A large portion of our unit is made up of volunteers from other units and everyone is extremely motivated," Acosia said.

After gaining volunteers, the South Carolina unit immediately began pre-mobilization training for their deployment. The group began their training at Fort Dix, N.J., and then came to Camp Atterbury.

So far, the transportation detachment Soldiers have undergone convoy training, strategic team traveling methods, reacting to indirect fire, weapons familiarization and qualification, nuclear biological and radiological training, combat life support training and language familiarization.

"It really helps that we had experienced veterans for our trainers and instructors," said Acosia. "Also, you can also see the unit's awesome cohesion come out in the training lanes, both of which make preparation for deployment a lot easier."

Once in country, the unit will track movements of military equipment, vehicles and convoys traveling throughout the theatre of operations. They will use an electronic database to read mobile tracking systems and global positioning systems in order to keep accountability of equipment. Soldiers within the unit will also assist movements by escorting convoys throughout Iraq.

Gladden said she is eager to get to work and continue getting to know the other Soldiers.

"I look forward to working well as a team overseas and making sure that everyone returns exactly the way they left, or even better," she said.

• Date Taken: 07.18.2008
• Date Posted: 08.05.2008 16:25
• Story ID: 22158
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, US