Photo By Maj. Thomas Piernicky | US Army Reserve Maj. Brett Agnew, an operations officer with the 211th Regional...... read more read more
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FORT HUNTER LEGGITT, Calif. – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with the 211th Regional Support Group, based out of Corpus Christi, Texas, participated in the 91st Training Division's Combat Support Training Exercise (CSTX 91-18-01) from 10-30 July 12, 2018. CSTX is a yearly training event that ensures America’s Army Reserve units are trained to deploy, bringing capable, combat-ready and lethal firepower in support of the Army and our joint partners anywhere in the world.
This kind of training and preparation does not come without challenges for participating units. The 211th RSG faced blistering heat, pushing 110 degrees, plus equipment and personnel shortages due to a change of mission shortly before deploying for the exercise.
“The 211th face two significant challenges,” said Col. Kelly McNeese, Commander of the 211th RSG. “The first was the reduction in the number of personnel that were coming to execute the mission. We limited it to essentially key and primary staff officers, NCOICs and a couple of functional specialists,” said McNeese.
The 211th RSG had only 25% of their normal personnel to do the job of running a Reception, Integration, Onward movement and Integration (RSOI) site, which usually requires at least 70 people. The RSOI process involves numerous activities such as equipment draw, receiving vehicles or cargo containers shipped by train or boat, and processing personnel into or out of the area of operation. Despite the shortage of personnel, McNeese felt his unit exceeded all expectations.
“Everybody carried their load plus more to get us through the exercise,” said McNeese. “Even though that was a significant challenge, I think that we successfully overcame given the mission.”
McNeese noted that despite not having the unit’s organic equipment, members of the team covered down on other staff functions so that things ran smoothly. In the final days of the exercise, the Soldiers of the 211th conducted 24-hour operations to out process over 4,000 Soldiers from dozens of units in less than 72 hours’ time.
Teamwork was essential to minimize difficulty given the austere conditions the 211th operated in. In addition to scorching heat, 211th Soldiers learned to live without many modern conveniences most Americans take for granted. Learning how to live under these conditions forces Soldiers to improvise and adapt to their environment making them better prepared for real combat situations.
“I think CSTX prepares Soldiers by presenting them with operations challenges that are found in near peer type engagements, rather than what we have been used to fighting in a counter insurgent operational environment,” said Lt. Col. Randolph Johnson, an operations officer for the 211th RSG. “There is a requirement for these units to remain mobile and to maintain more of a spartan living condition that allows them to cover a larger area of responsibility.”
Such spartan living conditions during operations like RSOI can have long hours and bring significant risk if Soldiers at all levels are not vigilant. Complacency during military operations can lead to serious injury or death.
“If you don’t really take care of yourself, if you don’t really look out for your buddy, or your team and for your unit, you can have folks wind up getting fatigued and losing their focus,” said Command Sergeant Major Thomas Brashears of the 211th RSG. “It is important to keep safety at the forefront. If you are constantly talking about it, if it is constantly part of who you are as a team, it becomes second nature and your troops feel empowered to do something about it.”
One way for Soldiers to feel empowered is by brushing up on their basic warrior tasks and skills. Despite frequently working 18-hour days during CSTX 91-18-01, the Soldiers of the 211th RSG made time to refresh skills like map reading, moving as a team and how to treat a casualty. Experienced non-commissioned officers taught the classes and emphasized why they were important.
“These are important so that the Soldier can apply them in a real-life situation and they will be able to react quickly without second guessing themselves,” said Sgt. Elisa Moreno, a human resources non-commissioned officer with the 211th personnel shop.
The 211th RSG is a part of the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). The command has units throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. As part of America’s Army Reserve, the units are trained, combat-ready and equipped to provide military and logistical support in any corner of the globe.
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2018 18:08 |
| Story ID: | 286602 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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