3-156 Infantry gets ‘All-Star’ OND visit

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, and a Ville Platte, La., native, speaks with two soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), during his visit to the Task Force Bandit Area of Operations. (Photo by Sgt Nathaniel Orphey)  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

11.17.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

By 1st Lt. Ronald Brown
3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq— Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), received a special visit from the Louisiana National Guard’s highest general officer and noncommissioned officer-in-charge Nov. 17 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, a Ville Platte, La., native, and Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, a Lafayette, La., native, extended their respect and admiration to the remaining Louisiana troops still providing service throughout portions of Iraq.

The visit marked a mandatory commitment made by the two highest members of the Louisiana National Guard to display and instill leadership at the highest level.

Fifty soldiers were chosen to have lunch with Landreneau and Caillier shortly after their arrival. Capt. Theron Watson, the battalion chaplain with 3-156th Inf. Bn., and a Lake Charles, La., native, blessed the meal of barbecue ribs, oven roasted chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and seasoned green beans, and then Landreneau informed the soldiers of a little-known Louisiana fact.

“The Louisiana soldiers on ground make up roughly one half of the National Guard force here in Iraq,” he said. “Governor Jindal continuously speaks highly of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the service you provide abroad.”

After the lunch, everyone posed for a group photo and shared stories on the profound impact that 3-156th Inf. Bn. made throughout the deployment.

“It was a great opportunity for me to meet the adjutant general,” said Sgt. Terrance Jeannisse, an administrative sergeant with 3-156th Inf. Bn., and a Lake Charles, La., native. “It’s not every day that you get to chat with a two-star general.”

Caillier was excited about the visit as he posed for individual and group photographs.

“I can’t complain; everything looks good,” said Caillier, while basking in the atmosphere and how the country of Iraq has improved versus the years his troops spent performing an entirely different mission in 2003-2005.

The all-star command pair and staff then loaded into a 30-passenger bus for individual visits to the 3-156th Inf. Bn. motorpool, C Company’s operation center and F Company’s motor pool.

During the visit to the battalion’s maintenance section, the pair was greeted by a soldier who was disassembling a transmission. Landreneau and Caillier both took time to personally speak with each Soldier in the section.

“The time that the general and the state sergeant major spent here today allowed them to see firsthand what it takes to keep the 3rd Battalion’s vehicles fully mission capable,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gregory Chance, the maintenance officer with the 3-156th Inf. Bn., and an Iowa, La., native.

Upon arrival at the F Company motorpool, Landreneau and Caillier got up close and personal with the staged Mine Resistant Armor Protected vehicles with crews on standby to give overviews on equipment.

Lt. Col. David B. Gooch, commander of 3-156th Inf. Bn., and a Houston native, gave a brief overview of the electronic systems that aided in the immobilization or premature detonation of improvised explosive devices.

Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen E. Hickman, senior enlisted advisor of the 3-156th Inf. Bn., and a Deridder, La., native, gave positive feedback to Caillier regarding the high morale levels of the more-than 650 enlisted troops stationed throughout eight locations of Iraq.

“We’re proud of our troops,” said Hickman. “They successfully met my and Lt. Col. Gooch’s standards; therefore, Maj. Gen. Landreneau and Command Sgt. Maj. Caillier had to come and see the great and wonderful things that this battalion is doing for themselves.”

• Date Taken: 11.17.2010
• Date Posted: 11.29.2010 12:36
• Story ID: 61034
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ