Training met with fervor as Strykers prep for war
Published Saturday, March 15, 2008
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The temperature is in the single digits and a recent dusting of snow has covered the icy patches on the ground, making each step a hazardous one.
Spc. Mike Moore, originally from California, has been waiting outside in this weather for a good half hour, yet he is excited.
“We are super motivated, super pumped about this because we’ve been training all week,” he says enthusiastically, pumping his fists. “There’s nothing I would rather be doing than being with my squad leader, with my squad on this beautiful Alaska day.”
Moore, along with several dozen other members of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, are training for their upcoming deployment to Iraq in September or October. On Thursday, three squads headed to the Fort Wainwright training grounds to practice a house raid.
But first came the waiting as the “shoothouse” was prepared for the arrival of members of 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry. As soldiers gathered in a parking lot on base, sipping energy drinks, smoking cigarettes and making jokes, there was an unmistakable air of excitement.
“We love doing this kind of stuff,” Spc. Thomas Gianetti said. “It gets us motivated. It’s pretty much a blast for us.”
After more than 30 minutes of waiting out in the cold, the word comes down that the squads can head to the training area in their convoy of four Stryker vehicles. The Strykers, named after two soldiers killed in World War II and Vietnam who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, look like the love child of a Humvee and a tank. Their eight wheels, as tall as a child and as wide as a desk, ensure that these truly are all-terrain vehicles.
Their armor, built to stop armor-piercing machine gun rounds and artillery fragments, keeps out anything that the operators don’t want inside.
Still, despite the bulky appearance, the drive to the training grounds is not much rougher than riding a city bus.
These are vehicles built for the tough conditions of the ongoing war in Iraq, where they’ve been used on the ground since October 2003. Many soldiers credit Strykers for saving their lives in the field, including one who made a point of thanking Gen. George Casey Jr. for the Strykers when the chief of staff of the Army visited Fort Wainwright late last year.
Outside the shoothouse each squad takes turns lining up outside the doorways of the green building before entering to shoot “insurgent” dummies and gather evidence. Collecting evidence of wrongdoing is almost as important as the raid itself. As more of the country’s security is turned over to the Iraqi government, judges will not punish suspected insurgents without sufficient evidence.
“For any situation we encounter, we want to do rehearsals just so our guys are prepared for anything they might encounter,” Lt. T.J. Rodebaugh said.
The assault on the house is just one of many training scenarios for the 1-25th as the soldiers prepare to go to Iraq. For many, this will be a return trip. The brigade, previously known as the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, was previously deployed to Iraq for 16 months from August 2005 through November 2006. Twenty-six soldiers from the brigade were killed during that deployment, and more than 300 were injured. The brigade was reflagged as the 1-25th shortly after it returned.
Still, soldiers like Moore, who is one of those soldiers going on a second deployment, are excited to be going back.
“I’m pretty stoked about it,” he said. “I’ve got a good company watching my back. I’ve got good people watching my back. I’m confident everything will be A-OK. I signed up to defend my country. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
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Godspeed and God bless, soldiers. Thanks for your service.
Ok first of all it wasn't soldiers from the 1-25 SBCT that were killed, we are very proud of the 172nd Strker Brigade Combat Team. There is pride in the 172nd SBCT after all it was them who done the 16th deployment not 1-25 ID. They didn't become the 1-25 ID until after the redeployment and reflagged. Yes, there are some of the soldiers still her from the previous deployment. However, lets give credit to the right brigade. I'm sure the fallen 26 Hero's of the 172nd SBCT and their families would appreciate it along with the rest of the soldiers and their families as well.
I just found out that my son (we are from Fairbanks) is "scheduled" to come home after being deployed in Baghdad for 14 months. I can't wait to see him for a short time before he will have to return to Ft Benning, GA to continue his service to our Country. I am very proud of our soldiers and our familes. Thank you each and every one!
armymedicswife thank you for saying what I was thinking - I know we are now the 1-25 but when they were there last time it was the 172nd and in some of our mings (ones that have been there before ) it will always be the 172nd even though they are now giving that name to others. I am so proud of all the young men and wish them god's speed.
Be safe.
good luck and god bless. come home safe. thank you all for every thing you do.
Thank you all for the notes above. We have corrected the reference to the 172nd in the story.
Thank you to all of these fine men. As a mother to a member of this Brigade I know my son is following his dream by serving his country. God Bless and be safe.
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