1st MSC leaders provide motivation and moral support to 246th Quartermaster Co. Soldiers

Photo By Lt. Col. Ruth Castro | U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 246th Quartermaster Company (Mortuary Affairs) are in the midst of their pre-mobilization training and received a visit from both the 1st Mission Support Command commanding general and command sergeant major May 11-13.  

PUERTO RICO

05.17.2017

Story by Maj. Ruth Castro 

1st Mission Support Command

FORT DIX, New Jersey – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 246th Quartermaster Company (Mortuary Affairs) are in the midst of their pre-mobilization training and received a visit from both the 1st Mission Support Command commanding general and command sergeant major May 11-13.

Brig. Gen. Alberto C. Rosende, commanding general for the 1st MSC, spoke with Soldiers about the importance of their profession and keeping up with their mental, physical and spiritual health.

“When you deploy, there are three things you have to focus on,” said Rosende. “Your physical health; you want to make sure you are physically healthy. Secondly, your mental health; find something that you like to do, whether it’s reading a book, going for a walk, crosswords puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, talk with family, whatever helps keep you mentally healthy.

Lastly, spiritual health. You have to think beyond yourself, what is that balance in the world, how do I fit in? What am I doing so that I can continue to be strong and continue to move forward?”

“We have to find that balance,” continued Rosende. “And it all starts with physical health. You have to get into a routine and start your day with PT. Physical PT, mental PT, and spiritual PT.”

There are a total of four mortuary affairs units that have combat experience in the Army, two from the Active Component and two in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“I don’t know if you can tell, but I am extremely proud to be the commander of the unit that has the only two mortuary affairs units in the Army Reserve,” said Rosende. “There is something very special about what you do and how you help us live up to the Warrior Ethos of ‘Never leave a fallen comrade.’ You make that happen; you are the experts.”

Rosende shared a personal account of losing Soldiers when he was a battalion commander in Afghanistan in 2005. “I lost a Soldier Aug. 11, 2005, and I lost four more Soldiers on March 12, 2006,” began Rosende. “When I delivered those Soldiers, the 311th Quartermaster Company was there to receive me. I have utmost respect for what you do. I make it a point to talk to you before you deploy and visit you during your different pieces of training because I know what it is like to sit with the parents of a Soldier that didn’t come back. I saw all of the personal effects as almost a shrine in their house in their living room. They have a book of all the letters they received from the President of the United States all the way down to his company commander. Those personal effects are there because of the work you do. When his body came home, it was because of the work that you do. It is very moving, and you are part of a very honorable vocation.”

Command Sgt. Major Orlando Santiago, command sergeant major for the 1st MSC, also shared his profound gratitude and respect for their profession. He began by complimenting the unit for all of their hard work during the pre-mobilization process and letting them know they recently visited with the 246th Detachment 2 in Kuwait.

“It is one thing to know about your MOS, but it is another thing to see it in action,” said Santiago. “Your MOS is the most dignified, most honorable, most respected job in the United States Army. Although you are behind the lines and no one sees you upfront, you are the most important person, the last line of defense, to handle those remains and honor that individual, that Soldier, that Warrior’s last service, and get them back to their family and that is a reason to be proud. I am honored to be part of the best mortuary affairs unit in the entire army.”

Since May 1, the 246th Detachment 3 completed various required pre-mobilization training to include weapons qualification and Combat Lifesaver training.

“So far our training has gone as planned and it has been flawless,” said 1st. Lt. Juan Colon, commander of the 246th Quartermaster Company Detachment 3. “As we begin our MOS-specific training, we are focused on giving our Soldiers the most realistic training as possible. In our MOS, we have the highest PTSD rates in the Army and the way that we mitigate that statistic is to give them realistic training so they can get accustomed to seeing human remains.”

“During our training and while deployed, we will also focus on allowing Soldiers to take advantage of MWR activities so they can take their minds off the stress of the job,” continued Colon. “This team is a good team that I know that we are going to successful close down our mobilization for the 246th. Until now they have demonstrated that they have the capacity and the motivation to go there, do our job to standard and come back safely. I am very proud of my Soldiers.”

With the high levels of stress that a mortuary affairs specialist encounter during a deployment, the command team is prepared to help Soldiers cope with stress before and during their upcoming deployment.

“I have very high hopes for our Soldiers during their future training,” said 1st. Lt. Manuel Moreno, executive officer for the 246th. “All of our Soldiers are qualified in their MOS, and we are here to acknowledge what they already know. We are also making sure that they have the training they need to stay mentally healthy and give them enough time to cope with the reality that we will face when we deploy.”

Sgt. 1st Class Omar Alvarez, the platoon leader for detachment, shares his experience with Soldiers that will deploy for the first time. This first deployment was in 2012 with the 246th. “Part of my job is to find the strengths and weaknesses of each Soldier and use that to help compose my teams. The goal is to make sure that the teams complement each other and that there is a balance.”

Alvarez mentioned that his experiences could help prepare Soldiers for what they will face during deployment and he can make changes himself. “I agree with the general, we have to be physically, mentally and spiritually fit,” said Alvarez. “During my first deployment I lacked spiritual fitness, but now I know that I am spiritually fit.”

The 246th will complete their pre-mobilization training at Fort Dix, New Jersey before returning to Puerto Rico. They will head to their mobilization site in Texas before going to the Middle East. As the only mortuary affairs unit in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, the unit will be spread out among nine different locations.

• Date Taken: 05.17.2017
• Date Posted: 05.17.2017 11:59
• Story ID: 234139
• Location: PR