22nd Conducts Airlift Ops

Photo By Sgt. James Geelen | U.S. Army Warrant Officer A. Starr Brinson, (front left), human resources technician, 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, leads Soldiers off a Lockheed C-130 Hercules July 31 at Camp Red Devil Training Area on Fort Carson. This joint operation demonstrated 22nd HRC’s ability to move personnel and equipment in a short time frame anywhere they are needed. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. James Geelen, 4th Sustainment Brigade PAO)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

08.16.2019

Story by Sgt. James Geelen 

4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

FORT CARSON, Colo. –Air mobility exercises traditionally involve combat arms Soldiers, but recently a nontraditional company had the opportunity to take advantage of this type of training.
The 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division executed a joint partnered training event with the Air Force’s 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron and the 731st Airlift Squadron of the 302nd Airlift Wing stationed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“For a human resources company to do an air mobility exercise is an unprecedented move,” said Capt. Kyle Garis, commander, 22nd HR, 4th STB, 4th SB, 4 ID. “This exercise demonstrates that we’re ready, willing and able to move our equipment on short notice. This also proves that the 22nd is on the right path and ready for future deployments.”
The 22nd displayed their deployment readiness by loading vehicles and personnel onto a Lockheed C-130 Hercules at Peterson Air Force Base and unloading in a hurry once they landed at Camp Red Devil on Fort Carson.
“I would say this is an uncommon occurrence, most companies prefer to do static loading training.” said Air Force Lt. Col. Bryan Huffman, mobility liaison officer, 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron. “This is a great opportunity to actually fly away and really proves the point of full deployment requirements.”
The human resources company specializes in personnel accountability, with a contingent of Soldiers that operate postal services during deployment and a casualty liaison team.
“Once we get on ground, the human resources company specializes in its ability to open a theater gateway,” Garis said. “Once we have accountability of all personnel, we give that data to subordinate units and we also put it on the deployed theater accountability system, which the Army uses to account for all personnel. So we are key in keeping Soldiers properly accounted for.”
For many of the Soldiers this was their first time being on a Lockheed C-130 and provided a unique training opportunity.
“This might be the first time a human resources company has ever done training like this,” said Sgt. Perry R. Hudicka, platoon sergeant, 22nd HR, 4th STB, 4th SB, 4 ID. “Usually the postal platoon will conduct this training, but we have Soldiers from all the teams out here. This lets the whole company display our ability to mobilize in a 72 hour window.”
This training exercise allows the Soldiers of the 22nd to experience how much preparation and planning goes into moving their personnel and equipment.
“I want my Soldiers to know that it’s not always about what we do technically, but how we are part of the bigger picture,” Garis said. “They have a whole new understanding of all the preparation that’s required to do this relatively simple mission. This helps them to understand that it’s not just about us and if they understand the bigger context, then they’ll be more effective at what they do.”

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• Date Taken: 08.16.2019
• Date Posted: 10.17.2019 17:29
• Story ID: 336764
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US
• Hometown: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US
• Hometown: MANSFIELD, PA, US