Florida Soldiers Support Mobilization Preparation for Mississippi National Guard Units

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Klestinski | Spc. Jeffrey Williams, a light-wheel mechanic with Company D of the Mississippi Guard’s 1-204th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, turns in his folder at the Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) check-out station. The SRP was set up by the Florida Guard’s 50th Regional Support Group at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center to help Guard units meet annual requirements for medical and administrative validation prior to mobilization.  

CAMP SHELBY JOINT FORCES TRAINING CENTER , FL, UNITED STATES

06.04.2019

Story by Capt. Jesse Manzano 

50th Regional Support Group

Camp Shelby, MS – As part of their annual training, Florida Guard soldiers assigned to the 50th Regional Support Group (RSG) set up a Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) station at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center to help several Guard units meet their annual requirements for soldiers’ medical and administrative records validation.

“Our ability to support mobilizing units through programs like the SRP is critical to their readiness and success in completing their mission,” said Maj. Rene Solis, human resources officer with the 50th RSG and officer-in-charge of the SRP. “Our soldiers need to be capable of operating in all kinds of environments and locations. We need to provide the same level of service and expertise that we offer back in Florida.”

During an SRP, reserve component soldiers go through several stations to review and ensure the accuracy of their financial, administrative and legal records. They also have an opportunity to meet with a chaplain and receive a series of medical examinations to determine if they can be mobilized.

The 1-204th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Battalion from the Mississippi Army National Guard was one of the units that participated in the SRP. With two mobilizations in the horizon, the 1-204th ADA had close to two hundred soldiers go through the SRP stations over two days.

“We will start our initial assessment for our mobilization soon, but this SRP is the first step in establishing a benchmark for our unit,” said Maj. James White, executive officer with the 1-204th ADA. “Everyone is excited about the deployments.”

Some of the soldiers from the 1-204th ADA will deploy to support Operation Noble Eagle, the military’s homeland defense mission that includes integrated air defense operations in the Washington, D.C. area, while a separate contingent will participate in the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI). The EDI field exercise provides air defense support to Brigade Combat Teams in the European theater. While over 60 percent of the 1-204th ADA soldiers have deployed at least once for Operation Noble Eagle, this is the first time they will participate in the EDI exercise.

Specialist Jeffrey Williams, a light-wheel mechanic with Company D of the 1-204th ADA, is looking forward to going back to the district. “I mobilized in 2015 as part of Operation Noble Eagle and that deployment was a learning opportunity for me and my team. I hope we have a similar experience this time around.”

For the 50th RSG soldiers that coordinated the SRP for the 1-204th ADA and other units, ensuring these soldiers are ready is a source of pride. “Every year we work to make the SRP process more efficient, and training opportunities like this one in Camp Shelby only helps us get better”, said Solis. “Mobilizing units are counting on us.”

• Date Taken: 06.04.2019
• Date Posted: 06.04.2019 16:41
• Story ID: 325369
• Location: CAMP SHELBY JOINT FORCES TRAINING CENTER , FL, US