Combined Press Information Center/Scimitar staff

BALAD, IRAQ

08.27.2004

Courtesy Story

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BALAD, Iraq - Shrapnel sprayed a humvee gunner's neck and face after insurgents detonated an improvised explosive device as his convoy drove down a road in northern Iraq July 31.

Spc. Dale Lunn of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 107th Field Artillery received treatment at the 67th Combat Support Hospital. That's where his physician discovered shrapnel embedded in the lenses of his Wiley-X goggles. That physician, Army Col. Patricia Lillis, credits Lunn's goggles with saving his eyesight. "I remember treating Specialist Lunn very well," Lillis said. "He came in having raccoon eyes. The only part of his face that wasn't harmed was where his glasses were."

Before deploying to Iraq, Lunn's unit purchased the goggles for its Soldiers. Today, Soldiers from across Multi-National Force-Iraq no longer need to rely on either their own units or their own wallets to obtain vision-protecting items, such as Wiley-Xes. That's because, as part of the Army chief of staff's Rapid Fielding Initiative, Soldiers are being issued Wiley-Xes " and a duffle bag's worth of other state-of-the-art gear 'through the RFI fielding site here. Each week thousands of service members receive new equipment to tackle Iraq's harsh desert environment, allowing each of them to better accomplish their individual missions.

"I'm ecstatic to finally make it over here," said 3625th Maintenance Company Spc. Shanta Haney. "I know one item that everyone is especially grateful to receive is the Wyley-X goggles. Before my unit deployed, a lot of the guys bought them out of their own pocket. This is a huge morale booster."

She added that because of the additional RFI issue, "I'm definitely going to be prepared for the upcoming winter months now with my new cold weather gear." The RFI program began in early 2002 during the operations in Afghanistan. Program Executive Officer-Soldier went into the field and asked Soldiers directly what they required to work more effectively in that type of environment. In Iraq so far, RFI has outfitted Soldiers from units including the 82nd Airborne Division, III Corps, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Infantry Division and 13th Corps Support Command, the 3/2 Stryker Brigade, the 25th Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division. "RFI is a great deal more than just socks and T-shirts," said Lt. Col. Andy MacDonald, the RFI Iraq-Kuwait chief for PEO Soldier.

When Soldiers arrive at the Balad RFI site, they are issued 14 items. These include moisture-wick-away T-shirts, socks, desert camouflage hydration systems, the goggles, temperate and cold-weather gloves, the advanced combat helmet and two types of the new desert infantry combat boots. "In this program, there is no segregation between active duty, Reserve or National Guard units," said Maj. John Cisney, the RFI North officer in charge. "We are issuing RFI equipment and gear to all Soldiers in theatre, McDonald said. "In fact, the National Guard" 81st, 30th and 39th Enhanced Separate Brigades were fielded their equipment before many active-component forces. Soldiers will receive the complete individual Soldier issue with the exception of the advanced combat helmet." A shortage of helmets exists theatrewide.

"Every piece of gear I received today is going to help out extremely during my tour in Iraq," said 13th Corps Support Command Spc. Kevin Chasson. "Out of everything, I can't wait to try out my new boots most of all, because I've all ready worn through four pairs of the desert basic issue." "Nothing can beat this operation in what it does," Cisney said. "It's more than worth its weight in gold." Using a variety of innovative methods, RFI has shortened the amount of time it takes to acquire an individual Soldier's equipment, better preparing them for real-world operations. "The whole issue process takes around 15 minutes," said Army Master Sgt. Robert Lainhart, the RFI operations noncommissioned officer in charge. "When a Soldier arrives he tells us his name and unit, grabs a gear checklist and then heads to the warehouse. That's how the process starts." On average, the Balad RFI processes around 50 service members per hour and 500 each day. "Some National Guard units only have funds to acquire so many items before they come overseas, therefore we're going to provide equipment for every Soldier in the theater, so everyone has the same gear," said Lainhart."

"While our operation was stationed in Baghdad, we took care of nearly 57,000 Soldiers," said Cisney. "As of Aug 15, 10,000 have been issued their new equipment from the Balad site. However, since the program started, 160,000 service members have been equipped through this initiative." While the bulk of the equipment is handed out in the warehouse, RFI teams also travel around the country with sizing kits to reach those who can't make the journey to Balad. "I've been out on the road for a month at a time just traveling to different forward operating bases to size the Soldiers who couldn't make it out here," said mobile sizing team leader Army Staff Sgt. James Hager. "I've gone out for a sizing mission from six to 6,000 service members. The group I go out with call themselves the road warriors due to the amount of time we spend traveling."

Teams made up of 6 to 12 people bring each equipment size with them, then after they measure each service member, they send all of their gear to that individual's supply office.

"I'm very proud of the work that I do," said fielding specialist Mike Sigrist. "When I travel out to the soldiers in the field and they see exactly what they'll be receiving, the look on their faces is the best part of my job." While some service members who work firsthand in this program weren't trained to man a supply station during their deployment, they still feel satisfied from what they're accomplishing, they said.

"Even though I'm a trigger puller, when I saw the first soldier come in to get his gear and the expression on his face," said Hager, "that's when I realized the importance and affect of my job."

Soldiers who need the RFI gear should contact their unit supply officer for scheduling information. The RFI fielding site in Balad will remain open through September.

• Date Taken: 08.27.2004
• Date Posted: 08.27.2004 13:36
• Story ID: 301
• Location: BALAD, IQ