Photo By Amabilia Payen | U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Jonathon Cecilio, communications officer in charge for 647th...... read more read more
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Story by Maj. Amabilia Payen, 647th RSG Public Affairs
FORT DIX, New Jersey - The process of deploying a unit to a theater of war has significantly been refined and processed since Operation Desert Storm. This process has come to be known as reception, staging, onward movement and integration, or RSOI. One U.S. Army Reserve unit from El Paso, Texas, makes the RSOI process look smooth and easy.
The 647th Regional Support Group, exercised RSOI for Warrior Exercise 78-17-01, here, March 21 through April 3. WAREX 78-17-01 is a culmination training exercise designed to assess units’ combat capabilities in a mock war torn country. The 647th RSG war-gamed with all 48 units and conducted its mission of RSOI in the simulated deployed environment as part of their annual two-week training requirements. Nearly 3,500 troops were in-processed and out-processed by the 647th RSG. These units came from 18 different states across the country including California, Kansas and West Virginia.
Lt. Col. William Nelson, deputy commanding officer, 647th RSG, believes the RSOI mission is a key part to Army operations.
“It’s important we practice these skills,” said Nelson. “We may be called upon to do them as we are here. The more critical part in our unit is the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) operations and working as a unit in the field, which we haven’t had an opportunity to do in the past.”
According to the unit’s organization, the 647th RSG is not equipped to do mayor cell operations, which is a small force inside a Forward Operating Base that runs day to day activities to sustain life for Soldiers while preparing to move onward towards the fields of battle, or returning from them, ready to go home.
According to Nelson, stretching out thin and conducting mayor cell tasks is an opportunity to practice different skill sets.
“Being able to manage a base camp is one aspect of it and it’s good for us,” said Nelson. “All the RSGs serve a critical function and 647th is no exception. This unit already did their job in theater, and we have had new staff since then. My job is to ensure we are trained so that we are ready to do the same thing next time we are called upon.”
During their two weeks here, the unit received a visit from Brig. Gen. Alex Fink, the commanding general of the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), U.S. Army Reserve.
“I call this more so as JRSO (Joint Reception Staging and Onward movement) because most likely the unit will be deploying in a joint environment,” said Fink. “It’s critical because this process is how you build combat power, and send them forward into the fight. It’s all about building combat power in a theater of war.”
In the case of the 647th RSG, this is a massive responsibility where forces can move forward and face an adversary. Staff Sgt. Alberto Amor conducted mayor cell duties in Afghanistan with the unit and he believes this training is important.
“We train here so that we know what to expect. Not only do we move the force forward, but we also clean up when the mission is done,” said Amor, referring to the drawdown of OEF and OIF in 2009-2010. Amor was part of the force ensuring units went home in mass. “Once everyone moved out, it was our job to tear the FOBs down, destroy everything that was not needed, and turn in items that could go home.”
So in essence, the RSOI mission is critical to Army operations, from the beginning to the end. With the U.S. Army Reserve being the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal Federal Reserve force in the history of the Nation, exercising these tasks are crucial to a unit, and for the commander who ensures his unit is ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“The RSOI and reverse RSOI are both very important missions,” said Col. Craig Cox, commander of the 647th RSG. “For two reasons it’s important. First accountability of personnel, which is primary, and then accountability of equipment. Therefore the big challenge is numbers. We have to have good communication with commanders to have a solid count.”
Tracking what goes into and out of areas of war is what Cox deems to be important for the American public to know. “We want to make sure we are not wasting money and leaving equipment behind,” said Cox. “Tracking all this places an important responsibility on us. In today’s RSOI process, there is a lot of emphasis on tracking numbers. It’s important to do this mission and practice it and tax our resources.”
So imagine yourself as a Soldier, saying goodbye to your family because you are about to board a bus filled with members of your unit. From the bus ride to the airport, to the airport to the country in question, the first place you arrive at is the forward operating base that will ensure you and your unit are ready to move forward towards the front lines of battle. You want a place to eat, sleep, and make a few phone calls back home. The 647th RSG ensures those needs are taken care of for every service member in the military.
Pvt. 1st Class Raul Hernandez, who is from Tornillo, Texas, east of El Paso, has not deployed yet, but now sees the bigger picture of what his mission is with his unit. In the 647th RSG, his military police skills are needed for security in different areas of the FOB.
“It's a good learning experience to see how it would be like to actually deploy and what to expect out of it,” said Hernandez. “I see how they have the TOC running and how our security is set up.”
Hernandez had a different view before WAREX 78-17-01, and after seeing it in action, he now understands how a family member would be worried about their loved one and how important the 647th RSG mission is to family members back home.
“I see how Red Cross messages get done and how we have the chaplain in case they need those services and advice,” said Hernandez. “They can contact back home if they have the free time. We can also ensure they get home.”
After two weeks of pushing troops back to their home states, the 647th RSG finally took all their lessons learned and headed back to El Paso, Texas.
One lesson that definitely stuck in every Soldier’s mind, was how the U.S. Army Reserve remains the dedicated federal reserve of the most decisive and lethal military in the world. WAREX 78-17-01 brought together thousands of Soldiers from 18 different states across the nation, all with different skill sets and exercised their capabilities. They are taking lessons learned so that if called to serve, they can fight and they can win against any threat to the U.S.
The Soldiers of the 647th RSG fully understand how important it is to remain ready, at any given moment, to answer the nation’s call.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2017 13:20 |
| Story ID: | 229526 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 209 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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