Arctic Wolves' extended tour nearly complete

Photo By Spc. Deborah Ledesma | Kuwait (13 December, 2006)--- A Soldier from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team closes the hatch of the Stryker vehicle prior to moving the Stryker to a new location during the reset process.  

12.11.2006

Story by Spc. Deborah Ledesma 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

by Spc. Debrah A. Robertson
Desert Voice Staff Writer
40th Public Affairs Detachment

Kuwait – After an extended time in theater, the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team rolls out of Iraq and into Kuwait for the final leg of their tour – the resetting of their Stryker vehicles.

A job this big requires the hard work and dedication of several different groups.

"Third Army was with us the whole time. They brought us to Mosul to Baghdad and back [to Kuwait] again," said Maj. Mark Collins, the chief of redeployment operations with the 172nd SBCT.

Third Army/U.S. Army Central provided the 172nd's "Arctic Wolves" with the transportation they needed to get in and out of Iraq.

"The transportation units [in Kuwait] are real warriors," said Collins.

Once back in Kuwait, the 172nd SBCT began the daunting process of redeploying back to the U.S.

The Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait of the 401st Army Field Support Brigade worked hand-in-hand with several other groups including ITT Federal Services International, Kellogg, Brown and Root, General Dynamics Land Systems, the 172nd SBCT themselves and the 4th Infantry Division to accomplish the mission.

"Like an orchestra, everyone must be tuned together," said Maj. James Coe, a support operations officer with AFSB-Kuwait.

AFSB-Kuwait did the overall plan, he said. "We provided the work area, the wash rack, the project engineering building for oil changes, the vehicle upload area as a deslat area, command and control tents, portable lights and latrines, and a refreshment tent."

After emptying the project engineering building, it was set up in assembly line fashion to conduct routine maintenance operations, such as oil changes, said Coe.

Tools and compressors were provided for the deslating project, he added.

The slat armor, also known as the 'bird cage,' must be removed prior to cleaning the Strykers, said Blair. It's also important that the Stryker be reduced in size by removing the slat for compact shipping aboard the large vessels that will take them back to Alaska.

"If it is battle damaged, engineering experts inspect it," said Blair on the deslatted Strykers. "They have the final say if the factory needs to rebuild it or if it can be sent to Alaska to be taken care of there."

The cleaning process is one of the largest details in the reset process.

The Arctic Wolves, along with Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division, dive into the work full-force using power washers at both Camp Arifjan and Camp Patriot to get the job done.

"We're trying to get everything together and get back home," said Spc. Joshua Young, a supply specialist with the 172nd SBCT.

While the Stryker vehicles are reset, the Wolves need to be supported.

"Third Army afforded us space, vehicles, buses, chow and living areas," said Blair. "They covered all the basics."

"They've been there through all of this," said Collins of Third Army's support during their redeployment.

Soon the Arctic Wolves will be out of the deserts of Iraq and Kuwait and back in the snowy drifts of Alaska.

• Date Taken: 12.11.2006
• Date Posted: 12.11.2006 14:21
• Story ID: 8539