Only mobilized Va. National Guard unit serving war effort trains for Afghan convoy duty

By Capt. Nolan Maxwell, Grizzly Detachment Commander, 2nd Battalion 393rd Infantry Regiment, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West Public AffairsJune 4, 2013

Only mobilized Va. National Guard unit serving war effort trains for Afghan convoy duty
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NORTH FORT HOOD, Texas -- To get ready to work with their Afghan counterparts delivering supplies throughout the country, the Virginia National Guard's 1710th Transportation Company finished its Culminating Training Event here recently.

The guardsmen's down-range mission includes working daily with host-nation convoys on dangerous supply routes.

To ensure their success, they need to be well-trained in many essential tasks, including language and cultural skills, small-arms and crew-served weapons, convoy procedures, and tactics to recognize and defeat improvised explosive devices.

"The training provided by the 2nd Battalion, 393rd Inf. Regt here at Fort Hood was the most realistic our company has experienced to date," said Capt. Rodney Rhodes, commander of the 1710th.

"Our Soldiers will leave here with absolute confidence in the training they received and an increased confidence in their ability to successfully complete our mission."

By the time they boarded the plane that would ultimately take them to Afghanistan, the Soldier's of 1710th Transportation Company demonstrated an outstanding ability to work as a team, and complete mastery of the tasks required to safely and efficiently work with the Afghan army.

According to the Virginia National Guard, the 1710th is made up of soldiers from all over the state. Approximately 70 soldiers are from the Hampton Roads area, about 30 are from the Richmond and Petersburg area, approximately 15 are from the Emporia, Franklin and Courtland area, about 10 are from the Northern Virginia area, and more Soldiers are from various other locations across the state.

The 1710th is currently the only mobilized Virginia National Guard unit serving the war effort.

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