By Sgt. David J. Nunn
203rd Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPEARTING BASE SCHOONOVER, Calif. – It's been said that Soldiers win battles, but logistics win wars.
Members of the 561st Regional Support Group, an Army Reserve unit based out of Omaha, Neb., sustained exercise Pacific Warrior and its thousands of training Soldiers.
They have not only tackled that mission, but also served as the command element for FOB Schoonover, a base created to simulate all the activities a Soldier would experience during a deployment.
"We are the sustainment taskforce; working ... to provide initial staging, provide arrival and departure missions, and maintain three forward operating bases with all the comforts of home," said Col. Mark Corson, commander of the 561st RSG.
"We take care of the force, to make sure the Soldiers have what they need to accomplish this training."
This mission is especially important to the Soldiers of the 561st RSG, for it prepares them for a possible deployment scheduled next year.
"Pacific Warrior is excellent because it provides us with the training to know how to take care of multiple cities, and cover the administration and logistic mission that goes along with that," Corson said.
In addition to gaining important training for their responsibilities, Pacific Warrior provided necessary training every Soldier will need overseas.
"This gives us the opportunity in premobilization training, especially for the young Soldiers that haven't deployed – or even those that have – a refresher to work on basic Soldier and survival skills," said Corson.
"These skills will temper the ability to save themselves and their buddy's life when they get over there."
The transition between reception and then moving to FOB Schoonover was well coordinated, allowing them to perform their duties to the Soldiers here and receive their own training.
"Having been previously deployed, this exercise has been very beneficial for the Soldiers that don't have that experience," said Sgt. 1st Class Allen Welch, supply sergeant. "The training has been very good and executed well. It gives us a better understanding of how to do our jobs while reacting under fire."