FRG Update 4/15/07 And Slideshow

I received this today from the FRG (Family Readiness Group). It was sort of a series of events leading up to their arrival in Iraq. The best part was getting pictures...it just makes you feel a little closer to the guys.

March 8, Sledgehammer Soldiers said “goodbye” to their families and boarded busses to Lawson Army Airfield once again. This time they were headed to Iraq in support of OIF 5.3 for a deployment thats length had not yet been determined. “The message to the Soldiers was to prepare for 12 to 18 months,” said Command Sgt. Maj. James M. Pearson, 43, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, senior enlisted noncommissioned officer of the 3rd HBCT. After approximately 24 hours of travel, the Soldiers arrived at Camp Beuhring, Kuwait where they would be spent about two weeks. During that time, the 3rd HBCT conducted various training exercises designed to prepare them for what they could encounter in the year-plus to come. Training included various weapons systems ranges, counter IED and counter insurgency classes, roll-over drills, medical training, close quarters marksmanship training and instruction on some of the brigade’s new equipment. “The (Mobile Operation in Urban Terrain) training and the medical training were great,” Pearson said. “It closely resembled what we could encounter here in Iraq.” Camp Buehring was the final stage in preparation and training to bring the Sledgehammer Soldiers of the 3rd HBCT where they are today. As of April 14, the 3rd HBCT is conducting full spectrum operations in the “Hammer” area of operations. The Sledgehammer Brigade is the first unit that was pushed out in the surge, to build a base from the ground up. Not more than one month before the unit arrived, FOB Hammer was an artillery and armored maneuver training range used by the Iraqi Army. The Sledgehammer Brigade had to construct every aspect of the FOB starting with security and the headquarters and moving on to amenities such as living quarters, showers and bathrooms, a chow hall and moral, welfare and recreation facilities. FOB Hammer is changing in appearance everyday. All headquarters have been established and are operating to their full capacity. There is a laundry facility run by Kellogg, Brown and Root and a post exchange, theater, gym and MWR all run by Sledgehammer Soldiers. April 11, an announcement was made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to extend the standard twelve month tour to fifteen months for all active-duty Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. For the Sledgehammer Brigade, this could mean a redeployment date of Mid June, 2008. “Fifteen months is less than eighteen months,” Pearson said. “The Soldiers and their families already had it in their minds that this deployment could go over a year.” “I couldn’t be more proud of every Sledgehammer Soldier, leader and family member for all they have done in getting ourselves set here in Iraq for OIF 5.3,” said Grigsby. “Again, both myself and Hammer 7 (Pearson) are humbled to be part of this team. It’s an honor to serve each and every Soldier in the 3rd HBCT in conjunction with the Iraqi Security Forces. And we will be successful…Git ‘r done!”

FOB Hammer Slideshow