Sanford’s Own Florida National Guard Soldiers continue their march from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn

CAMP VIRGINIA, KUWAIT

10.11.2010

Courtesy Story

53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team

By 2nd Lt Tom LeClaire
2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment

CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait—Soldiers of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, Florida Army National Guard, based in Sanford, Fla., continue their day to day operations in Iraq and Kuwait.

After the past several months, many of the soldiers have developed a good taste for working in desert conditions, especially over the intense heat of the recent summer. Temperatures ranged as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit and challenged even the most seasoned veteran. However, many of the soldiers from the company are on their first deployment, which provides them the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a challenging environment and a unique set of skills allowing them to accomplish the mission and press forward towards homecoming.
Since being mobilized in January 2010, Bravo Company has promoted over 60 soldiers, some into the non-commissioned officer corps, among them, Sgts. Nicole Jones, Joel Garcia and Adam Ridler.

Other highlights over the course of this deployment include additions to our extended family with the delivery of three healthy baby boys - all potential future infantrymen for central Florida’s Seminole Battalion. The happy fathers include: Staff Sgt. Christopher, Spc. James Smith and Spc. Kellen McLarty.

Although the training received, the experiences shared and the work Bravo Company has done this year has been fulfilling, its completion is greatly anticipated.

For more information on this unit contact the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Officer MAJ Sandra Doberstein at [e-mail]

• Date Taken: 10.11.2010
• Date Posted: 10.11.2010 08:22
• Story ID: 57876
• Location: CAMP VIRGINIA, KW