NUREMBERG, Germany -- After little preparation time, the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division has made its way to Germany from Fort Carson Colorado. The purpose of the rapid deployment is a part of the US Army's deployment readiness program that serves to ensure that units can be deployed with short notice as well as be received by their overseas host nation counterparts.
Fulfilling this high requirement was no easy feat for the 2-12th Inf. Regt. Soldiers needed to be medically screened and fully qualified on their weapons in time to roll out. Pfc. Travon Jackson, a fire support specialist with Company C, 2-12th Inf. Regt., recalled the necessary procedures to get ready.
"We had a lot of classes and other things to complete in a short amount of time," he said.
Along with that, leaders needed to find a way to move a whole battalion in a few days, with only two weeks notice. Maj. Christopher Richardson, a logistics officer and G4 of the 4th Inf. Div. Mission Command Element, in Poznan, Poland, spoke on the feat that saw so many moved so far, so fast.
"It was impressive for TRANSCOM (US Army Transportation Command) to generate all the aircraft needed on such a short notice," he said.
With the leading units finally landing at Nuremberg Airport, Germany on May 16th, 2017 the arriving Soldiers got to work shortly after arriving at Grafenwoehr Training Area. Within a day they were downloading their equipment to storehouses and going to rifle ranges as other soldiers were still drifting into camp. Richardson provided feedback on the importance of the soldier's ability to jump into action after a couple long plane rides.
"It's a great opportunity to see where we can improve as well as where we need to cut back. As far as rapid deployment of forces, we're seeing successful training numbers so far," he said.
Troops will also be landing in Ramstein, Germany to decrease the time it takes to get the entire battalion in country, according to Richardson.
The operation is a crucial initiative that tests Soldier readiness, and the troops of the 2-12th Inf. Regt didn't skip a beat. They displayed enthusiasm for their mission as soon as they stepped off the plane. Pfc. Jackson was an example for his fellow Soldiers as he carried his duffel bags under the warm sun.
"Even with only two weeks notice, I was pretty excited in getting here," he said.
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