Briefings prepare 1st Armored Division Soldiers, families for Iraq deployment

By Jennifer Clampet (USAG Wiesbaden)September 9, 2009

Briefings prepare 1st Armored Division Soldiers, families for Iraq deployment
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany - Before the three-hour pre-deployment briefing on Aug. 27 got underway, Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, made one thing clear to members of 1st Armored Division's Special Troops Battalion.

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"We're taking the entire team," said the division's commander. "Remember you're getting paid to play."

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Unable to say the exact deployment dates, Wolff did confirm that the battalion's deployment to Iraq will last at least 12 months. And he emphasized again that the "entire team" would deploy, most before the end of the year.

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A comical and informative video tour of Camp Liberty, Iraq, produced by the 1st Cavalry Division gave Soldiers in the Special Troops Battalion their first look at the "world's most secure trailer park" - the site where most of the STB troops are expected to spend their 12-month deployment.

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The video mentioned three separate dining facilities, laundry services, an Army and Air Force Exchange Service food court with a Popeyes, Taco Bell and Cinnabon restaurants and an indoor fitness center.

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Delving into the sometimes complicated policies and procedures associated with military deployments, Wiesbaden garrison staff and 1st AD officials gave Soldiers a brief overview of topics ranging from housing and chaplain services to helpful hints offered by legal and postal service officials.

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Capt. Matthew Reid of the Legal Assistance Office advised Soldiers not to take their cell phones with them to Iraq.

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"There's the out of country roaming charges. It can cost $7 a minute (to use your cell phones in Iraq)," Reid told the packed theater. "(The service providers) don't tell you that when you're making the call. You find out when you get the Ac'A!1,300 phone bill."

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Mark Daybell with Army Community Service called emergency savings the number one priority for military families during deployments. He advised families and single Soldiers to consider a laundry list of options to conserve and save "special pay."

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Child, Youth and School Services staff offered information on programs offered at discounted rates to families of deployed Soldiers. Those programs include 16 free respite care hours per child per month for families of deployed Soldiers, reduction of hourly care fees to $2 an hour for hourly care beyond the 16 free respite care hours and credit toward instructional classes and team sports enrollments for families of deployed and rear detachment Soldiers. CYSS officials did note that mission-level supporting documents are required to obtain the reduced fees.

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The next pre-deployment briefing is planned for Nov. 4 at the Taunus Theater.

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