CAMP SHELBY, Mississippi – Early on a foggy, humid morning lies a long line of Soldiers waiting to check in and start off what may be a lengthy yet crucial day.
Soldiers of the Mississippi Army National Guard are engaging in a Soldier Readiness Process event September 16, 2017. The SRP is a program that helps prepare Soldiers for potential deployments. Different stations, such as personnel, finance, medical, and legal, are setup during the event to help determine if a Soldier is in a mission ready state.
“It gives us an opportunity to be exposed to the Soldier individually, in a group,” said Col. Stephen B. Shoop, the MSARNG state surgeon. “Our ambition is really simple. Our mission is one and that’s to get each and every Soldier medically ready for their deployment.”
The program is implemented to keep Soldiers prepared and aware of their own well-being. Although the evaluations and examinations may last for hours, it is beneficial for the Soldier as well as the unit.
"The more ready they are now before they leave the state of Mississippi, the less pressure for them when they’re at the mobilization station and they can focus on training instead of all these personnel matters,” said Sgt. Ariyel C. Bryant, a financial services technician for the 168th Engineer Brigade. “We’ll have them taken care of before they make it there.”
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