Photo By 2nd Lt. Jarvis Mace | Staff Sgt. Christopher H. Watts (left), a Defense Travel Administrator with Joint...... read more read more
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FORT IRWIN, Calif.-- The 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard, is at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, for their rotation of combat training from May 18-June 15, 2017.
NTC is the U.S. military’s premiere training facility for combat operations. The 155th will face physical and mental challenges that have been developed through actual combat experiences around the world in an environment that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
While the Soldiers are training away from home, their families continue day-to-day living. Life goes on and sometimes emergencies arise that require a Soldier to return home quickly. The American Red Cross provides emergency communication services for military families through a systematic process.
“If a family member has a medical emergency, they contact the American Red Cross,” said Maj. Marilyn M. Upton, the 155th’s personnel officer. “After the request is verified, the American Red Cross will go through our Joint Operations Center back in Mississippi and then the JOC will notify me here at Fort Irwin. From there, I make the appropriate notification to the Soldier’s commander.”
Staff Sgt. Christopher H. Watts, a defense travel administrator with Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, coordinates the Soldiers’ journeys home after they receive an American Red Cross emergency communication message.
When emergency leave is granted, Watts works with the Soldier by communicating with travel agencies and using the Defense Travel System, a website which allows him to arrange transportation for the Soldier, using military billing accounts to ensure an expedited return home.
“I’m pushing for five hours, from the time I sit the Soldier down in their seat to them actually boarding their plane,” said Watts. “That's my mission.”
His role as a travel administrator is important for the Soldiers training at Fort Irwin that need to return home to deal with family emergencies, said Col. Millard G. Reedy, the administrative officer for the 184th Sustainment Command, Mississippi Army National Guard.
The 184th, along with more than 40 other units, makeup the 5,000-strong Joint Task Force Magnolia for this NTC rotation.
Watts describes his job as a helpful service. He enjoys working with Soldiers and making sure that their transport back home for their emergency is stress-free.
“I love it,” Watts said. “It’s my way of giving back to my country by helping the Soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2017 03:53 |
| Story ID: | 235403 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Getting our Soldiers back home during times of emergency, by 2LT Jarvis Mace, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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