FORT BLISS, Texas – As one of two presently active Mobilization Force Generation Installations, Fort Bliss perpetually supports both contingency missions and scheduled unit rotations. To accomplish this task, Army Reserve Soldiers of the 210th Regional Support Group, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and civilians of Tatitlek Corporation work together to facilitate mobilization demands and processes.
Both entities are part of the Mobilization and Deployment Brigade/Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security and are integral to the MFGI.
“Our main role is to oversee the contractors,” said Cpl. Ivanska Carrillo, human resources specialist and noncommissioned officer in charge for the 210th RSG and MaD Brigade personnel actions office (S1) Mobilization. “We try to help the contractors as much as possible, so it’s easier for them to accomplish their mission, and that’s our mission as well. We’re like a family, and we work very well together.”
While the 210th RSG is the latest iteration of units since April 2018 to commandeer MaD Brigade operations, the Tatitlek Corporation has maintained its presence for the seventh consecutive year.
“Although we get a new RSG every year, we’re the continuity here,” said Patricia Sierra, transition lead from Tatitlek. “It’s a learning process for us every year when a new unit comes in again.”
According to Staff Sgt. Jose Morales, an Army Reserve Soldier of the 210th RSG and MaD Brigade S1 Demobilization NCOIC, they’ve experienced a voluminous stream of personnel flowing in and out of their shops since their arrival here.
“Since we got here in April 2017, we have processed over 5,200 Soldiers just for demobilization, which is more than 75 units,” said Morales. “We also have given demobilization support to CONUS (Contiguous United States) Replacement Center individuals on orders, which adds about 1,000 more to the total.”
To mitigate the flow, the 210th RSG and Tatitlek maintain proactive anticipation of unit movements in order to expedite their procedures.
“We track each unit about 30-90 days before their arrival, and make sure that they have all of their required documents that we need for them to be processed by us,” Carrillo said. “We also make sure that the unit is aware of everything going on related to their Soldiers’ medical and administrative statuses.”
Carrillo alluded to her deployment to Kuwait with the 246th Quartermaster Company (Mortuary Affairs) in regards to her experience in these processes.
“Before this mobilization, I myself was deployed as the unit’s S1 representative,” Carrillo said. “That’s why I feel great to have this position since I was already in their shoes last year, so it’s better for me to explain the processes a certain way and knowing what they’re going to need and ask for.”
Although the 210th RSG handle oversight and crisis management, the civilians engage in the bulk of the S1 transition efforts here.
“The processing clerks are great, respectful, and mindful,” said Spc. Ashley Lubo, human resources specialist for the 210th RSG and MaD Brigade Transitions NCOIC. “Obviously, they’ve been doing this job way longer and have more experience than we do. I may know bits and pieces because of the nature of my job, but they’re the ones doing it over and over again, and they work really hard.”
Occasionally, tensions had arisen due to discrepancies and faults found during mobilizing, demobilizing, and transition processes. Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Luis Rivas, human resources assistant for the personnel sections, said that they are candid in bringing up said deficiencies to ensure that Soldiers are not set up for failure.
“We try to accommodate the Soldiers as best as we can, but sometimes we have to break some hearts and tell them that they can’t go home right away because of issues with their paperwork,” Rivas said. “If there is a problem between the contractors and the Soldiers, we then talk it out and make sure that we can fix those issues.”
Nevertheless, the 210th RSG remain steadfast in their resolve to serve and support MFGI rotational operations until their departure in late April 2019.
“At the end of the day, that’s what we’re here for…our mission is to take care of Soldiers, and to be the middlemen for our contractors,” Lubo said.