From the 188th Infantry Brigade

Soldiers from the Texas National Guard 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are nearing the end of post-mobilization training at Fort Stewart, Ga. Training is scheduled to conclude in early November setting the stage for the 56th IBCT deployment this fall as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"The 56th IBCT is a well trained, motivated outfit," said Col. George Geczy, commander, 188th Infantry Brigade. The 188th Infantry Brigade is a training support brigade at Fort Stewart responsible for training oversight of mobilized Reservists and National Guard Soldiers. "The 56th IBCT aggressively attacked post-mobilization training and they are prepared for security force operations in Iraq," said Geczy.

Convoy security and force protection will be the cornerstone of daily operations during the 56th IBCT mission in Iraqi. During post-mobilization training at Fort Stewart, the 56th IBCT primarily conducted collective, mission specific training including combat logistics patrols, gunnery, urban operations, and base defense operations.

Collective training events were supported by interlaced individual training tasks including improvised explosive device defeat training, combat life saver skills and numerous other theater specific individual required training tasks.

Post-mobilization training for the 56 IBCT at Fort Stewart culminates with a series of mission rehearsal exercises that incorporate all aspects of individual and collective training and validates the 56th IBCT readiness for combat operations.

"We wanted to ensure all training was mission focused, realistic, and doctrinally sound," said Col. Geczy. "The 56th IBCT is a cohesive unit with many valuable past individual and unit experiences. I have no doubt they will greatly contribute in Iraq," added Geczy.

Fort Stewart will bid the 56th IBCT farewell as the unit's colors are cased during a ceremony set for 10 a.m., Nov. 1 at Cottrell Field.

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