Task Force Red Wolf Soldiers clean it, inspect it and send it home

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield | SAN MARCOS, Guatemala – U.S. Army Sgt. Marshall McPhink, 1038th Engineer Company mechanic, wipes the door of a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck June 10, 2016, during Exercise BEYOND THE HORIZON 2016 GUATEMALA. Task Force Red Wolf has more than 70 vehicles that must be cleaned before being redeployed.  

GUATEMALA

06.11.2016

Story by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield 

4th Fighter Wing   

SAN MARCOS, Guatemala – Whether it’s the end of an exercise, tour of duty somewhere or deployment, when it’s time to go home there are always things that need to be done. One of the major activities that need to be done is the cleaning of equipment so it can be shipped home. But wait, it’s not that easy and it all started during Desert Shield and Storm.

All U.S. Military equipment must be inspected by U.S. Customs and Agriculture agents. These agents check every piece of equipment looking for dirt, seeds, plants, insects and animals basically, anything that may bring harm or ruin to the environment and economy of the U.S. However, the agents were overwhelmed by the sheer amount of equipment. This led to the creation of U.S. Transportation Command and a memorandum of agreement that essentially said this situation needs to get under control. So, USTRANSCOM, U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed to train military members to perform the inspections said, Greg Jaskinia, Army South customs program manager.

Now fast forward to today, less than a week out from the end of Exercise BEYOND THE HORIZON 2016 GUATEMALA and Task Force Red Wolf Soldiers are working diligently to clean more than 70 pieces of equipment while under the watchful eye of Jaskinia, Army South’s inspector.

“I’m the inspector for everything U.S. Military South of Mexico,” said Jaskinia. “We [TFRW Soldiers and Jaskinia] are here to ensure that all seeds, dirt, grime, leaves and insects are removed before they get to the U.S.”

Jaskinia went on to explain that it only takes a little bit of dirt, which can be a carrier of diseases such as Blackleg or Hoof and Mouth, to find a home in U.S. soils and flourish to cause severe economic and environmental damage.

“It’s like when explorers first came to the Americas,” said Jaskinia. “They were used to the Smallpox virus but the native people were not and when they were introduced to this virus it killed thousands. When animals get sick in the U.S., if it’s not controllable, all animals of that species in a five-mile radius must be destroyed.”

With consequences such as this looming in a possible future, TFRW Soldiers have double downed to protect their country.

“It’s Important to meet the customs standards,” said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Joshua Goodon, 875th Engineer Battalion Forward Support Company maintenance control officer. “At first there was some difficult meeting the standards in the time that we had left and if we couldn’t, Soldiers would be required to stay behind, which would be rather expensive.
However, everyone reassessed the situation and with guidance from ARSOUTH, my Soldiers are knocking these vehicles out.”

With new direction and drive, it’s not just the U.S. that will be saved but, TFRW’s departure from Guatemala as well and as the exodus creeps ever closer Jaskinia imparts his final words of advice to the service members of BTH 2016-Guatemala.

“When you get home, wash your uniforms and boots,” said Jaskinia. “Like I said, it only takes a little bit to cause problems. There is a possibility that when you lay your gear down, that your pet may sniff, taste or do what they may with it and they can become sick.”

• Date Taken: 06.11.2016
• Date Posted: 06.11.2016 18:18
• Story ID: 200765
• Location: GT