More New Things

Our days here at sunny Camp Dodge are quickly coming to an end. The first phase of our deployment, the Home Station Activity Plan, is only a few days from being completed. From here we'll relocate to wonderful Texas for our official mobilization training before heading out to the Middle East. Some of our recent activities have included turning in our current gear. Once we reach Texas we'll be issued the latest and greatest equipment that the Army feels we should have. One such item is our body armour. I have to admit that the old vest only took a day before returning to its familiar comfort. I look forward to being issued the new one as it is supposed to offer much more coverage than the older style I had, although that does equate to the vest being heavier.

Another new piece of equipment our unit is receiving once we get overseas is the ASV armoured vehicle for our security element. The other day the members of the security contingent got some hands-on training with the new vehicles and from what I have been told they love it. The ASV is fast, packs quite the wallop, and is heavily armoured. Between the vehicle, the motivation and morale of the troops in our security element, and the up-armour on the HETs we should be much safer this deployment than we were back in OIF I (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

Over all the entire experience the last five weeks has been new. New vehicles, new training subjects, and for some of us new platoons even. All things considered the future looks promising.

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NOTE: photos courtesy of SPC Robison