4th Infantry Division Soldiers showcase rapid deployment skills

By Pvt. Nicholas VidroMay 23, 2017

4th Infantry Division Soldiers showcase rapid deployment skills
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and two military ambulances depart in a convoy from Nuremberg Airport, Germany on May 16, 2017. The vehicles are from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
4th Infantry Division Soldiers showcase rapid deployment skills
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, depart for training after a lengthy flight to Nuremberg Airport, Germany on May 16th, 2017. The soldiers were only given two weeks notic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
4th Infantry Division Soldiers showcase rapid deployment skills
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Noah Collins, a rifleman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, helps his fellow Soldiers load duffel bags on a bus at Nuremberg Airport, Germany on May 16th, 2017. He and ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NUREMBERG, Germany -- Finally able to take a breath after a rigorous assembly, the Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, arrived at Nuremberg Airport, Germany on May 16th, 2017 to begin their training abroad.

The battalion embarked on an emergency deployment readiness exercise, where they were only given two weeks notice to ready themselves to be deployed half way across the world. Lt. Col. Bo Dennis, battalion commander of the 2-12th Inf. Regt. summarized the importance of rapid deployments such as these.

"It's the type of mission that shows that the Army can deploy a unit at any time and any point in its life life cycle very rapidly. Over the course of two weeks we were able to deploy all of our battalion's equipment along with 600 personnel, and that proves that we can in fact go anywhere in the world with short notice," he said.

The challenge was well received by the soldiers of the 2-12th Inf. Regt., even though they had recently returned from another deployment. Dennis described the feelings among the troops.

"Not only has it been a tremendous team effort, but the enthusiasm of the soldiers has been palpable. It's really motivating considering that this battalion just came back from Afghanistan last November, so the energy level here is really inspiring," he said.

The troops had a hectic two weeks at Fort Carson before deploying. The time included squads gaining new live fire qualifications as well as every soldier being medically screened to be fit for the deployment. 1st Lt. Christian De La Torre, a platoon leader with Company B, 2-12th Inf. Regt. shared some of his feelings about hitting the ground running.

"I'm very exited about it (deploying). It's a great opportunity for myself and these soldiers to work together along with a foreign force," he said.

Although the soldiers likely feel the jet lag from a long series of flights across the Atlantic Ocean, they're ready for anything that comes their way. De La Torre shared his optimism for his platoon's current exercise in Germany.

"I hope we just come together as a family, and get our SOPs (standard operating procedures) down as well as better executing platoon live fires," he said.

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4th Infantry Division Soldiers showcase rapid deployment skills