By Spc. Walter Klein,
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — The 4th Infantry Division began deploying in early November to Kuwait for final preparations before taking over as the Headquarters element of Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
To help facilitate the movement of Soldiers through Kuwait and into Baghdad, the Division Tactical Advance Center at Camp Buehring stood up to provide final training of MND-B Soldiers as they move to the combat zone to assume their duties.
The DTAC team is responsible for organizing inbound and outbound flights, logistical concerns such as water, ammunition and setting up training for Soldiers.
Perhaps the most important section of the DTAC is the Division Transportation Office that is responsible for moving Soldiers, equipment, and supplies.
"Nothing happens till something moves," said Staff Sgt. Lonnie Johnson, the G4 logistics DTO non-commissioned officer, 4th Inf. Div, and native of Hollywood, Fla. "We are responsible for all incoming and outgoing flights, all vehicle moves for 4th Inf. Div. as well as other MND-B units arriving in Kuwait."
Another important section in the DTAC is the Joint Network Node team. They are responsible for setting up communications, running phone lines and setting up the satellite trucks coordinating with Division G6 communications and electronics.
"We are responsible for managing the communications network, installing communications in the Tactical Operations Center and keeping the Brigade Combat Teams in contact with MND-B," said Pfc. Joshua Turner, signal support specialist, Company C, Special Troops Battalion Atlanta, Ga., native.
The G1 personnel office and the G3 operations and training office are responsible for inproccessing Soldiers in Kuwait and seeing to their final training such as improvised explosive device recognition, fratricide prevention training, weapons ranges and counter remote control improvised explosive device electronic warfare.
The G4 logistics section's role is to see to the needs of the Soldiers while they are in Kuwait, dealing with issues of water, ammunition and food. They are also responsible for tracking down equipment Soldiers need before moving on to Baghdad and maintenance issues that might arise while in Kuwait. This mission encompasses all the Soldiers that fall under MND-B.
The communications and electronics helpdesk also plays a crucial role in the transition.
"We help keep the TOC running, solving any computer problems that may pop up while we move our Soldiers and equipment to Kuwait," said Sgt. Owen Martin, G6 helpdesk NCO, a native of Sioux City, Iowa.
The 4th Inf. Div. advanced team pre-deployment preparations enabled a smooth transition from Kuwait to Baghdad for the Division headquarters and the Soldiers of MND-B.