Unit welcomes new platoon leader midway through tour

Courtesy Photo | First Lt. John Weirauch and Sgt. 1st Class Henry Concepcion, both with the 220th Transportation Company, 394th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), examine an inventory of assigned vehicles to the platoon. Every piece of equipment assigned to the platoon, including communications equipment and vehicles, is ultimately the responsibility of Weirauch to account for and maintain. The total value exceeds $1 million. (Photo by: Elliott Plack)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

12.03.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — The 220th Transportation Company, 394th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), was assigned a new platoon leader in the middle of its deployment to northern Iraq.

First Lt. John Weirauch of Spokane, Wash., began his tour with the 14th Transportation Battalion as a staff officer, writing operations orders and managing convoys throughout the Iraq.

The 220th Trans. Co. is a reserve unit out of Keene, N.H. When this unit deployed, it had several non-commissioned officers in platoon leadership positions.

“In 15 years in the Army Reserves, all served with transportation companies, I have never had a lieutenant in my platoon,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Henry Concepcion, platoon sergeant with the platoon of which Weirauch is now in charge.

“I was lucky enough to land in a company that could use me, and would be there long enough to be worthwhile,” says Weirauch. “I’ve only been here a month and have learned a lot from the soldiers and leaders.”

Most Reserve soldiers are used to not having a junior officer in their lower-level chain of command. This is beneficial to them, said 1st Sgt. Anthony Del Pozzo, senior enlisted leader with the 220th Trans. Co., and a Salem, N.H., native.

“This allows soldiers to make the distinction between and commissioned officer and a non-commissioned officer in their chain of command, and it allows them to react accordingly,” said Del Pozzo.

It is also beneficial to the platoon sergeant. With the ongoing conflicts around the globe, Reservists are finding themselves on active duty regularly. Back in the drilling environment, soldiers learn how to do their job and fight, but they don’t often experience active duty chain of command. Platoon sergeants are no different.

“As platoon sergeant, I never had a platoon leader, and so I made all of the decisions for the platoon myself, outside of directives and orders from the commander and first sergeant,” said Concepcion. “The NCO does everything. Now having a lieutenant to report to and work with, I see the value of the junior officer.”

In a transportation company, the platoon leader is charged with handling mission logistics, according to Army Field Manual 55-30, while the platoon sergeant makes certain that the soldiers are well trained, properly maintaining their equipment, and their well-being.

Having the officer there to handle the logistics of the missions allows the platoon sergeant to spend more time with the soldiers, and thus everyone benefits overall.

The future for Weirauch is uncertain, as he will soon redeploy back to Italy with his battalion. However, with all the valuable experiences he has had here, and will have, he hopes to move to a company-level position.

“I’ve had the experience to be battalion staff, and I’ve had the experience to be platoon leader,” said Weirauch. “Working with soldiers is much more fun than working at the staff level.”

• Date Taken: 12.03.2010
• Date Posted: 12.26.2010 08:15
• Story ID: 62622
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ