Photo By Staff Sgt. Renee Seruntine | A group of Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Darwin Seehusen
135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Iowa National Guard
FORT POLK, La.- For Pfc. Taylor M. Christensen of Eagle Grove, Iowa, his first annual training was hotter than what he expected.
“I didn’t think it would be this hot,” Christensen said.
Christensen is a truck driver with the 2nd Platoon, 2168th Transportation Company, 1034th Combat Service Support Battalion, 734th Regimental Support Group, Iowa Army National Guard. His unit was tasked with supporting Iowa National Guard Soldiers during their Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotation at Fort Polk, La., by hauling vehicles and equipment from Iowa to Fort Polk and by providing logistics and security support from Forward Operating Base Forge to units out in the field.
“We put forth the effort to accomplish the mission. Everyone worked together.” said Christensen.
Nearly 6,000 Active Duty Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers and Airman from 24 states, including more than 2,000 from the Iowa Army National Guard, participated in this rigorous, relevant and realistic three-week training exercise. This includes Iowa Soldiers participating in the training as well as those providing support.
It was a herculean task to get that many personnel to Fort Polk on time with the right equipment so they were mission ready for their JRTC rotation. It took more than nine months of logistics planning to make it happen.
Sgt. Major Jeff Peterson, Logistics Sergeant Major for the Iowa Army National Guard, said more than 800 pieces of equipment, equaling more than 1,000 military and commercial loads, were shipped to Fort Polk from Iowa and other participating states. In addition to over-the-road-trucking, 25 commercial planes and 69 buses were used to bring Soldiers and equipment here for the rotation.
“I cannot stress enough how this has been a team effort across all areas of the operation.” said Peterson.
One of those tasked with hauling equipment to Fort Polk was 1st Lt. Brett Blazicek, from Urbandale, Iowa, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, 2168th Transportation Company, Iowa Army National Guard.
“(My Soldiers) had to come together as a team. (They) had a great attitude and accepted the challenge. I couldn’t be any prouder.” said Blazicek.
Blazicek's platoon hauled more than 70 pieces of equipment from Iowa including commercial trailers and eight fuel tankers, consuming more than 7,000 gallons of fuel in the process.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2015 22:02 |
| Story ID: | 172547 |
| Location: | JOHNSTON', IA, US |
| Hometown: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | URBANDALE, IA, US |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Iowa National Guard Soldiers ‘Keep on Truckin’, by MSG Duff E. McFadden, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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