2-4 Infantry completes mission in Zabul province; refits at KAF

Photo By Staff Sgt. Brian Raley | Army Pfc. Casey O'Toole from Eden Prairie, MN, with Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division conducts a preventative maintenance check on his vehicle while preparing for his units next combat operation in Afghanistan.  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

08.14.2006

Story by Maj. Nancy Hansen 

345th Public Affairs Detachment

by Maj. Nancy A. Hanson 345th 345th MPAD

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Members of Task Force Warrior recently conducted a battle change over with the Romanian Task Force at their Forward Operating Base in the Zabul province and moved its troops and equipment to Kandahar Airfield for refit operations.

2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Polk, LA., also known as Task Force Warrior, along with Afghan National Security Forces conducted security operations in the Zabul province from March through August, with their most recent mission in support of Operation Mountain Thrust which began in June.

As part of the refitting, TF Warrior's equipment and vehicles are being repaired, upgraded and equipped for further operations in Regional Command East. The 297th Logistical Task Force, or TF Denali of the Alaska National Guard, has the challenging task of ensuring that units are properly reconstituted before moving on.

TF Denali is not new to this undertaking, as they recently completed a major refit of the 2nd Battalion 87th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division a few weeks ago. Working TF Denali's team of mechanics in providing the vehicle maintenance and upgrades is Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 699th Maintenance Company, 10th Mountain Division, the Army Material Command, comprised of civilian mechanics, and the 277th Aviation Support Battalion.

"The main focus now is around the clock maintenance operations," said TF Denali Command Sgt. Maj. Pamela Harrington from Nome, Alaska.

"They [TF Warrior] came in sooner than we expected, and we want to maximize their success for their mission by having equipment and soldiers at one-hundred percent," she added.

Collectively this team of 70 mechanics will service approximately 180 vehicles in only a few days for TF Warrior.

Army Pfc. Casey O'Toole of Eden Praire, MN who serves as a driver and personal security detail for the HHD, 2-4 Infantry, traveled by convoy from the Qalat district of Zabul province to KAF. By the next morning he was hard at work conducting preventive maintenance on his vehicle and assessing what parts were needed to make minor repairs.

"My vehicle is running good compared to some others," said O'Toole. "This is not my first vehicle; that one was hit by an IED," he said.

"I was driving. We were all really lucky, we only had minor injuries," he added. "That piece of armor saved my life," he said while pointing to a metal plate behind the left front tire of the vehicle. "I have faith in the armor now."

Refitting a unit encompasses more than repairing broken equipment and vehicles and making upgrades, it also includes taking care of soldiers' personal needs.

TF Denali provides TF Warrior Soldiers a place to do just that. At the LTF 297 One-Stop soldiers can address medical issues, talk with combat stress counselors, draw casual pay from finance, update their identification cards, swap out their worn out uniforms and boots, and make phone calls or send emails home in the Morale, Welfare and Recreation room.

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Blecker, section leader from Company D, 2-4 Infantry, commented that soldiers were happy to be at KAF for a few days even if they still had to work.

"These guys get a few days of much needed rest and relaxation before heading out," said Blecker, adding that KAF is a much more relaxing environment and that it is good for morale of the troops.

Soldiers wasted no time seeking out the Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut and other establishments along the KAF boardwalk as well as the MWR facilities here.

"About 1000 Soldiers came to KAF to be refitted and some of them have already begun to move to another area to posture for further operations here in Afghanistan," said TF Warrior Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph A. Montour, from San Diego, CA.

The follow on mission for TF Warrior will take them to Regional Command East, where they will support 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division in continuing operations.

• Date Taken: 08.14.2006
• Date Posted: 08.14.2006 12:24
• Story ID: 7439
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF