Playing second string? 2nd BCT awaits call from bench

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Michael Noggle | A 2nd BCT howitzer awaits firing orders at the Udairi Range. (Army Photo/Spc. Michael R. Noggle)  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

02.10.2006

Courtesy Story

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Spc. Michael R. Noggle
CFLCC PAO/11th PAD

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait " While waiting for the call-up from Iraq, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, isn't wasting time sitting around.

With the possibility of being summoned at a moment's notice, the Germany-based unit continues to train and adapt to an environment to which they are not accustomed.

"It's a different environment here which makes it more realistic. This is the environment they can go into in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Richard Anderson, 2nd BCT, 1st AD, executive officer. "We get good training in Germany but this environment makes it more realistic for the Soldiers."

Currently, the unit is serving as a call-forward force to be sent to Iraq, Anderson explained. They could be called upon to deploy at any time, but in the meantime continue to train and prepare for Iraq.

"We've been out here training hard," said 1st Lt. Justin Philippi, Battery C, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery fire direction officer. "The Soldiers feel we've been pushing them too hard, but it's good, real-world training."

"The training has been more frequent than anywhere else," said Pfc. Anthony Smith, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Bn., 27th FA radio operator. "Other than this training, we've done some convoy live fire, maintenance of vehicles and weapons ranges."

Prior to their arrival in Kuwait, Smith said he knew there would be a 50/50 chance on whether the unit would get into the fight.

"We weren't too sure as to what to expect," he said. "You have to come here with an open mindâ?¦. Right now we're on standby to go north; in the meantime we are here, doing what our mission calls for."

The Soldiers from Battery C are preparing for a battalion "Top Gun" competition in which units will compete in a field artillery contest in the future.

"The Top Gun determines the best in the battalion," Philippi said. "It consist of firing missions, uploading ammo, land navigation, written tests - things we use to evaluate the field artillery Soldiers."

Others within the brigade have been maintaining their Soldiering skills as well, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Jose A. Santos, 2nd BCT command sergeant major. Whether it's zeroing weapons, performing maintenance checks on vehicles or sitting in on military classes, the Soldiers are constantly on the move.

Since November, they have conducted training that would take other units close to a year to complete, he said. These Soldiers are ready to go to fight.

Santos said he remains optimistic there will be a mission for his brigade somewhere down the road.

"There's a possibility for anything," he said. "Today I can tell you we are not going anywhere and tomorrow might be a different story. We are ready for any course of action given to us."

While there is no word as to when the unit might see Iraq, Anderson tells his Soldiers to remain patient and feels as though there is a positive side to their deployment.

"Our unit being here has been a plus for the Iraqi theater operations," he said. "It shows that things are workingâ?¦. The Iraqi security forces are taking over; they are doing what we envisioned them doing."

• Date Taken: 02.10.2006
• Date Posted: 02.10.2006 14:09
• Story ID: 5370
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW