By Sgt. Jeffery W. Lucas II
145th Support Battalion Historian
FOB WARRIOR, Iraq -- By land, sea, air and rail, equipment from the 145th Support Battalion and the 116th Brigade Combat Team will be moving out of Iraq and back state side.
Redeployment is a long and diligent process of documenting everything and ensuring the packing is done correctly, the first time. This is where the unit movement officers (UMOs) come into play. UMOs are charged with making sure unit equipment gets from one location to another, and are also the overseers of the packing and inventory process of the connexs.
"You have to track a lot of things and you have to track them accurately or things get lost," explained Sgt. Jason Thometz, Company UMO for Charlie Company, 145th Support Battalion.
The 145th Support Battalion UMOs went through what is normally a three week course that was condensed down into roughly one week school at Ft. Bliss, Texas last year before moving into Iraq.
"It was hard and fast, trying to get us as much information as they could give us, but at the same time information changed a lot," said Thometz.
The class gave some good information on movements, especially for the soldiers who had never done this kind of job before. The classes taught the soldiers the regulations and the phases they would go through during the process.
One vital process of the packing and shipping out is the hazardous material (HAZMAT) inspection. Spc. Annie Hendrickson of Bravo Co. is the Unit HAZMAT Certifier. Hendrickson says that hazardous material can be anything that is flammable, combustible, toxic, or radioactive.
"I inspect all the HAZMAT products, look at packing list, and make sure everything is documented properly," commented Hendrickson.
Hendrickson is a technician at the Mobilization and Training Equipment Site (MATES) at Orchard Training Area near Boise, Idaho. She was sent to a specialized school for HAZMAT certifiers in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2002, so her advice is taken and used daily.
Another UMO that isn't new to the whole moving process is Alpha Co. UMO, Sgt. Perry Goodman who moved in and out of Kuwait in 1991 with the 3rd Infantry Division during the Gulf War. When comparing the two movement operations, Sgt. Goodman said that this time is better due to time to plan the process of moving out and better equipment.
Right now the 145th Support Battalion UMOs are filling out their packing lists for the connexes that will be shipped home, and having them inspected by the customs. Customs will then lock the connexes and the connexes will not be opened again until arrival at home station.
The whole UMO process takes several months of preparation, planning and coordination with other companies within the unit, but the goal is the same everywhere, to get the job done and get home.
"This is a time consuming job, a bit stressful, but if done properly it will go smooth," said Thometz.
The 116th BCT is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, two armor battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, a support battalion, a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
| Date Taken: | 08.23.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2005 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 2818 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 21 |
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