Joint training exercise validates unit for CRF

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hammond | Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division conduct a load out and fly away validation exercise July 21 using two M1126 Strykers and a C-17 aircraft as part of the 25th ID Contingency Response Force Mission. The CRF mission is designed to rapidly deploy Soldiers within the Pacific’s area of responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance or combat operations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Hammond, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs/Released)  

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES

07.21.2015

Story by Sgt. Ian Ives 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, were validated as a Contingency Response Force during a joint training exercise with the 30th Arial Support Squadron, out of Niagara Falls, New York, July 21, 2015, at Hickam Airfield.

The validation ensures the unit is prepared to assume the CRF mission, which allows Soldiers to rapidly deploy within the Asia-Pacific’s area of responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance or combat operations.

“I think anytime you are working outside of your comfort zone with a sister service you get to see at a macro level of what it takes to complete the mission,” said Capt. Kevin Ramirez, commander of Company B and officer in charge of the validation.

In the weeks prior to the validation exercise, 1-27 IN completed a sequence of events to ensure their Soldiers and equipment were deployment ready. Soldiers started by receiving an alert call that started from the most senior leadership down to the junior enlisted. Once receiving this alert, Soldiers went through a series of inspections and medical evaluations to prove that both troops and equipment were operable in a deployed environment. After completing all of the required validations, Company B prepared to convoy to Joint Base Pearl Harbor/Hickam Airfield.

Ramirez, a native of Columbia, North Carolina, said his Soldiers spent several hours coordinating and preparing equipment for the validation exercise.

“I think the biggest takeaway is the prep work to assure we make the proper coordination with the Air Force and all the other agencies involved to make sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish,” said Ramirez.

Within a short period of time, 1-27 IN received authorization to conduct the fly away and Soldiers loaded up into their vehicles to move out.

This is the first time that one infantryman, Pfc. Nicholas Houston, a native of Jackson, Michigan, conducted a mission of this importance.

“I feel like I will have better understanding of what it takes to make a rapid deployment, and meet the CRF standards,” said Houston.

Once the convoy moved to the flight line, it did not take long to load about 30 Soldiers, two Strykers and one Humvee into the C-17A Globemaster III, where Airmen and Soldiers worked side-by-side to load and secure the vehicles in the aircraft.

Tech. Sgt. Sherry Hunter, part of the ramp load team member assigned to 30th Arial Support Squadron, worked with 1-27 IN Soldiers to tie down all equipment and vehicles, and was impressed with the unit.

“The Army seems very willing to learn, to help and to assist,” said Hunter, a native of Buffalo, New York. “So far, it has been great.”

The validation has ensured Company B is prepared for rapid deployment for the next three months as they continue to assume CRF responsibilities.

• Date Taken: 07.21.2015
• Date Posted: 07.24.2015 20:58
• Story ID: 171080
• Location: JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US
• Hometown: BUFFALO, NY, US
• Hometown: COLUMBIA, NC, US
• Hometown: JACKSON, MI, US
• Hometown: NIAGARA FALLS, NY, US