Photo By Sgt. Rodney Foliente | After a long day of work, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ian Holt, fusion officer in charge,...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Rodney Foliente
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Although most would rather be at home, Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are enjoying the comforts and amenities of life at Camp Echo, their temporary home away from home.
Warhorse Soldiers from 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment; Company C of the 204th Brigade Support Battalion; and the 2nd BCT Special Troops Bn. are based out of Camp Echo.
"This is going to be my new home for the deployment, and it's better here than I thought," said Spc. Chau Nguyen, automated logistics specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BCT STB.
Having some of these comforts helps the Soldiers deal with being away from home, said Nguyen, who usually calls Boston home.
Although the camp offers fewer amenities and on a smaller scale than most previously deployed Soldiers experienced on their last tour, Camp Echo boasts more features than the Warhorse Soldiers expected.
"We'll work as hard as we can to improve the quality of life here. We're at the initial phase right now, but there will be significant changes within the next six months or so," said Sgt. 1st Class Erin Langes, Camp Echo mayor, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd BCT.
Soldiers have access to free laundry services, a free Internet cafe, a phone center, a convenience store, a coffee shop, a movie theater, a Morale, Welfare and Recreation center and a gym facility.
The brigade plans to expand the MWR and gym facility, and add more equipment, expand the Internet café, phone centers, laundry facility and add an additional convenience store with concession stands.
Soldiers live in or are moving into containerized housing units with beds, electricity and air conditioners. Most Soldiers arrived with the expectation of living in tents for quite a while. The BCT is working on establishing wireless Internet availability at the housing units as well.
Hungry Soldiers can fill up at the dining facility, with food available 24 hours a day.
The food is good, and there is a pretty wide variety available, said Spc. Kenneth Hill, medic, brigade personal detachment team, as he played a game of billiards. Hill comes from Columbus, Ga.
"The living conditions are pretty comfortable and everybody says the quality of life will get better," said Sgt. Leif Wood, senior radar operator, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Bn., 16th Field Artillery Regt., attached to 2nd Combined Arms Bn., 8th Inf. Regt.
Sure, he'd rather be home, but he said overall, there isn't much to complain about.
"I think the family members back home should know that we're doing fine and trying to have a good time," said the Colorado Springs, Colo. resident. "They've got things you can do on your off time, and that keeps the morale up."
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2008 04:07 |
| Story ID: | 24230 |
| Location: | DIWANIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 232 |
| Downloads: | 188 |
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