650th RSG Soldiers set up CSTX exercise

Photo By Capt. Fernando Ochoa | Sgt. Jose Torresmartinez, 650th Regional Support Group ammunition specialist, who worked as an Advance Liaison (ADVON) who set up the base camp Forward Operating Base Liberty during this year’s Combat Support Training Exercise at Ft. McCoy, Wis., checks the statistics for the logistics section June 11.  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

06.02.2015

Story by Capt. Fernando Ochoa 

311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command   

FORT MCCOY, Wis. – In order for any Army exercise to be successful, an Advance Liaison (ADVON) must first set up the base camp and during this year’s Combat Support Training Exercise at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin, Sgt. Jose Torresmartinez, 650th Regional Support Group ammunition specialist, and Sgt. Miguel Castelan, 650th RSG logistics specialist, were sent to set up Forward Operating Base Liberty in late May.

The CSTX is a multi-component, joint, integrated training event that is conducted over six forward operating bases and will serve more than three thousand Soldiers from U.S. Army Reserve units from around the country.

“This has been a great experience for me because I’m learning a lot of new aspects to how the operation runs,” said Torresmartinez. “We really came together and worked as a team to support the main body of the unit.”

Imagine an area of operation with barren fields and empty buildings. The ADVON personnel take that deserted terrain and turn it into an active community. From preparing the living quarters, setting up generators and lighting to signing out HUMVEEs and forklifts, the personnel who have to accomplish these tasks can work as many as 16 hour days.

“Now I know how it works at a brigade level operation,” said Castelan. “It was rewarding working for sergeant major Dean, who showed us the ins and outs of the logistics section.”

Led by Sgt. Maj. Dean, the 650th RSG sent 10 personnel to Fort McCoy’s FOB Liberty to prepare for a main body of 81 persons, which included 26 females and 55 males; all found comfortable accommodation when they arrived.

“It was refreshing working with these two young sergeants who were highly motivated, had great military bearing and were very respectful,” said Dean. “When I gave them a task it was completed. They are the future noncommissioned officers of the future.”

Torresmartinez and Castelan worked until their mission was complete, but that wasn’t the end of their work. The 650th RSG is a support unit and after the main body arrived the second part of their work was about to begin. Supplying, maintaining and supporting the troops in the field.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2015
• Date Posted: 06.14.2015 01:32
• Story ID: 166571
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US