Soldiers take on the cold at WAREX

By Capt. Shamika Hill ( USARC)February 3, 2014

WAREX
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WAREX
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WAREX
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WAREX
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Brig. Gen. Mitchell Chitwood, Brig. Gen. Michael Dillard, Brig. Gen. Michael Mann, and Brig. Gen. I. Neal Black listen as officers from the 863rd Engineer Battalion explain their operation during the Warrior Exercise rotation at Joint Bas... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Freezing temperatures, continuous snowfall and equipment malfunctions didn't dampen the spirits of Soldiers participating in this year's Warrior Exercise here recently.

Brig. Gen. Michael Dillard, commanding general of the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Brig. Gen. Michael Mann, commanding general of the Deployment Support Command, Brig. Gen. Mitchell Chitwood, deputy commanding general of the 63rd Regional Support Command, and Brig. Gen I. Neal Black, commanding general of the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, were able to see first-hand how their Soldiers were operating and have a chance to say, "Well done."

The generals visited the training sites of a number of their units. They talked to the cooks from the 863rd Engineer Battalion, from Darien, Ill.; petroleum specialists from the 910th Quartermaster Company, Ardmore, Okla.; shower and laundry specialists from the 275th Quartermaster Company, Fort Pickett, Va.; and military police from the 342nd Military Police Company, Columbus, Ohio.

Soldiers from each of the units said the cold weather and snow had been very challenging; the equipment was fragile due to the extremely cold weather. The 910th QM Company and the 275th QM Company had their share of frozen fuel and shower lines due to the sub-zero temperatures, Soldiers said.

"We have to keep the heaters running around the clock or the pipes will freeze," said Spc. Mawuli Apeti of the 275th.

Everyone pulled together to get the job done, Apeti said.

Dillard presented Mawuli and Spc. Morgana Lindey, also from the 275th QM Company, with coins for a job well done.

"A real Soldier finds a way to make it work," Dillard said.

Dillard said the units had a very interesting experience in figuring out how to unfreeze their fuel and water lines under pressure and in freezing temperatures.

"We appreciate you guys, very impressive," Dillard said said.

Col. Bruce Hackett, commander of the 78th Training Division, said he was impressed by what he saw during the exercise.

"Every day I learn something new from these Soldiers," Hackett said.