WOODLAWN, Ohio - Over the last several months, soldiers from the Woodlawn-based Support Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, have been spending extra time training on their regular drill weekends. This additional training has one goal in mind; getting ready for a potential overseas deployment to Afghanistan.
In August 2011, the Headquarters & Headquarters Company and Forward Support Company of the 216th Engineer Battalion received an alert order to prepare for a potential mobilization in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan later this year.
The alert order for the 216th has since been cancelled.
These Engineer soldiers are conducting a variety of extensive training to include enhanced medical training, proper use of protective equipment, weapons training as well as briefings about the country of Afghanistan.
Unit 1st Sgt. Gilbert Scroggy, from Clarksville, said getting ready for deployment can be a monumental task.
“We have soldiers that are at different degrees of readiness in preparation for an overseas deployment,” explained Scroggy.
Scroggy said that nearly every month, new Soldiers are arriving at the unit to fill any vacancies that may exist prior to the deployment.
One of those soldiers is Spc. Brandon Jinks from Chillicothe. Jinks transferred into the FSC for what will be his first deployment.
“While there may be a lot of training, to me, it does not seem any different than any other drill weekend,” said Jinks. “We train as we fight.”
“Over the course of a drill weekend, we may have soldiers attending Military Occupational School, regular briefings, make up briefings and trainings,” said Scroggy. “Because of this, getting everybody to the same level of preparedness can be hard.”
Scroggy stated that one thing he is trying to get his soldiers to understand is that communication with employers is critical.
Soldiers may be asked to spend an extra day, week, or even month away from work because of additional military training.
“We have to make sure that employers are aware that we are going,” said Scroggy. “Because of upcoming additional training, we have to help get employers on board with what we are doing.”
For Scroggy, the most rewarding part of the training is seeing everything come together.
“Now that the soldiers have a defined mission in front of them, you can see them started to get excited,” said Scroggy. “The unit is starting to take more of an active duty mentality.”