KIRKUK, Iraq - Iron Soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Team, "Ready First" 1st Armored Division, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, were visited by their division command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. William M. Johnson, during his three-day visit to Forward Operating Base Warrior, in Kirkuk, Iraq, May 13-15.
Johnson is out of Wiesbaden, Germany, and deployed to Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, to visit his Iron Soldiers so they have a chance to get to know him. He wanted this opportunity because 1st Armored Division headquarters is scheduled to move from Germany to Fort Bliss in the summer of 2011.
Soon after landing, Johnson joined Command Sgt. Maj. James P. Daniels, command sergeant major of "Ready First," on a route clearance patrol with Charlie Company, 1-1 Special Troops Battalion, 1st BCT, 1st AD.
During the patrol, he witnessed combat engineers from Company C successfully locate and destroy an improvised explosive device.
It is great we have these 1st Armored Division Soldiers out here protecting the roads for their fellow Soldiers, Johnson said of the mission.
After completing the mission with Company C, the command sergeants major arrived at Joint Service Station McHenry to visit with the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 37th Armor, 1st BCT, 1st AD.
While with the 1/37th Armor, Johnson patrolled Riyadh, near Kirkuk, and then awarded two of the Soldiers with his coin.
Following the mission, Johnson, attended the re-enlistment of Staff Sgt. Jonathan Atwood, a native of Warshaw, Ohio, and a non-commissioned officer on the 1/37th Armor commander's personal security detachment.
"I need to get this Soldier's information, I'm recruiting for my PSD," joked Johnson, after the ceremony.
After visiting with 1/37th Armor, the command sergeants major visited Soldiers from 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 1st AD, at Patrol Base Doria, which is scheduled to close in a month. Following a tour of Doria, the command sergeants major, went to the Kirkuk Training Center to watch the 6/1st Cav. Soldiers train their Iraqi partners.
"We did a lot these past few days, but I wanted to give Command Sergeant Major Johnson a snapshot of how his Iron Soldiers are training their counterparts and leaving a 'Ready First' mark in Kirkuk," said Daniels.
Johnson said he enjoyed his fast-paced visit.
"My favorite part is seeing my patches and my Soldiers," he said.