Exercise prepares STB leaders for deployment

Photo By Master Sgt. Ben Navratil | Sgt. 1st Class Maggie Buckner, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Soldier Readiness Center, briefs a group of platoon- and company-level leaders at the Soldier Readiness Center on Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 14. The briefing was part of a deployment exercise, in which the officers and NCOs were shown exactly what they and their Soldiers would have to do if they were ordered to deploy. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ben K. Navratil)  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

02.14.2017

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Ben Navratil 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

Soldiers within the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, conducted a deployment exercise at several locations on Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., Feb. 14.
The DEPEX was intended to familiarize platoon and company level leaders with the steps they would have to go through if their unit were to deploy.
“They were chosen to help ensure that all leaders within the formation had a better understanding of the installations’ deployment capabilities,” said 1st Lt. Jocelyn Thomas, the executive officer of the Marne Reception Center, Special Troops Bn, 3rd Inf. Div. Sust. Bde., and who planned the exercise.
In the event a unit gets called upon to deploy, the troops within that unit would have to cycle through the Soldier Readiness Center, Supply Subsistence Management Office, Central Issue Facility, Rail Marshalling Area and finally the Arrival and Departure Airfield Control Group, which is located at Hunter Army Airfield.
As part of the DEPEX, the leaders toured all of those locations, getting briefed on what requirements their Soldiers would have to complete before deploying. For example, at the Rail Marshalling Area, they would have to properly mark all vehicles and prepare them for shipping overseas.
“I feel as though the DEPEX will improve the battalion’s deployment readiness,” said Thomas. “Most of the time when units don’t meet a standard or intent, it’s because of ignorance; therefore by educating our leaders we also increase the knowledge of our Soldiers.”
The exercise touched on all facets of the deployment process, including personnel readiness, getting issued supplies and equipment, preparing vehicles and large cargo for shipment, and finally, moving out.
It’s a process that normally could take several days, but during the exercise the leaders involved were able to see the operation in one day. Many even learned new facets about deployment they didn’t already know.
“The overall consensus from the group was that the training was both informative and warranted,” said Thomas. “They were able visit locations they had not seen before, and they were able to take away at least one teaching point from each station.”

• Date Taken: 02.14.2017
• Date Posted: 02.18.2017 16:30
• Story ID: 224055
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US