Photo By Staff Sgt. Evan Ruchotzke | Spc. Kevon Rudd, a culinary specialist with 1st Cavalry Division, poses in front of...... read more read more
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“Without these soldiers the warfighter couldn’t have been a success. So, my hat goes off to them for all their hard work and efforts,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Caron S. Hill, the senior enlisted advisor for Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion III Corps (HHBN).
Throughout the course of Warfighter 21-4, key players from a number of offices and directorates collaborated to simulate real time mission command. What often goes unseen are the crucial but underappreciated efforts that keep the exercise in motion.
The patience and work ethic of the soldiers in the field has been a key force multiplier throughout the exercise, said Hill.
Mornings start early for Spc. Kevon Rudd’s culinary specialists at the French Living Area on the Fort Hood Mission Training Command.
“From two A.M. to six A.M. the soldiers are cooking, then they head out to start serving. 700 servings at least,” said the 1st Cavalry culinary specialist.
“That’s for each meal too,” said Rudd. “I try to keep my soldiers to eight hour shifts, but the job is done when the job’s done and some days can get real long.”
Rudd’s soldiers are part of a wider constellation of professionals working diligently behind the scenes to make this year’s warfighter exercise, 21-4, a success.
Sgt. Thomas Dasso, a combat medic with HHBN III Corps, was chosen by his first sergeant to serve as the guard force noncommissioned officer in charge for the duration of the exercise.
“It’s 24 hour operations right now,” said Dasso.
“Sometimes it’s twelve hour shifts, but I try to keep their shifts at nine. I don’t like my soldiers being worn out. But the job’s the job and we have to keep a presence here.”
Dasso, who works as a preventive medical NCO for HHBN said that the job was doubly hard due to COVID-19 mitigation measures in place.
“If they’re running a temperature when they try to come in we pull them aside and get a medic to clear them or send them back.”
“It’s a lot of little stuff too though, grey water sites, squaring away the compound, taking care of trash and then the latrine situation,” said Dasso.
“The little things can build up though and they need things to run smoothly to do what they do,” said Dasso.
“It’s about that positivity though, keeping people positive. If I can get some smiles coming through the gate then I’m doing a good job. You have to put people first.”
Keeping Soldiers’ morale high was a primary concern for many of the supporting players on the ground, not least of all the HHBN unit ministry team.
“Sometimes soldiers just need someone to talk to, things going on home or something like that,” said Spc. Austin Brees, a religious affairs specialist at HHBN III Corps. “That’s where the unit ministry team comes in.”
Brees, a recent addition to the Fort Hood community, arrived just a week before the start of the warfighter, but said he was happy to hit the ground running.
“It’s been challenging,” said Brees. The chaplain's assistant went on to say that despite the daunting environment he’s stepped into he’s grateful for the opportunity to meet his new organization and to offer support in a unique environment
“Being able to give soldiers a chance to practice their faith is the biggest thing we bring to the table,” said Brees.
“These guys are running 24/7, so being able to spend some time with their creator or their personal beliefs is such a morale booster. So just being able to provide them that space to be at peace is just so valuable.”
While they may operate behind the scenes, the supporting Soldiers’ senior leaders said that they notice their Soldiers' hard work.
“If anything I am overly pleased,” said Hill. “They’ve been nothing but stellar performers and have been doing a great job,” said Hill.
Hill went on to say that the logistical challenges that support soldiers face can be formidable.
“It’s always challenging for these behind the scenes soldiers, but those are the power players. Without them there’s not much we could really do.”
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2021 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 393942 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 280 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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