CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) visited the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during the final stage of their post-mobilization training here June 13.
As Inhofe toured Camp Shelby he spoke with Soldiers about their upcoming deployment, he watched them train and had lunch at the dining facility with them.
Pfc. Redmond Brown, an Oklahoma City native and human resource specialist with A Company, 1-160th Field Artillery, was a little shocked by the senator’s visit.
“It was an honor just to meet him,” said Brown. “He really cares about Oklahoma’s guardsmen; it means a lot that he came down here.”
One stop on the senator’s tour was the rapid fielding initiative facility, where Soldiers are issued the gear they will use during deployment.
1st Sgt. Mitchell Brickey, a native of Mustang, Okla., also from A Company 1-160th FA, thought the senator’s visit did a lot for his Soldiers.
“I am glad he came here,” said Brickey. “This is the first time since our mission changed that the soldiers feel important"this was great for their morale.”
Inhofe is the second ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and has the reputation as being an expert on defense and national security issues. As a strong supporter of the military, he advocates for greater resources, necessary equipment and proper training for military personnel, according to his website.
After witnessing egress training, Inhofe told the 45th IBCT troops that he thought they had received great training; and that rollover training saves lives.
“You are leaving this training smarter than when you arrived to it,” said Inhofe. “Soldiers that survive rollover accidents survive because of this training.”
Spc. Natalie Hammons from Shawnee, Okla., had another motive for speaking with the senator.
“My mom (Vicky Beasley) is a huge fan of Senator Inhofe’s,” said Hammons. “I told her he was going to visit us and she got so excited. He was so great he even took a picture with me, so I can send it to my mom.”
For many of the Oklahoma guardsmen it was not the first time they had the opportunity to meet with the senator.
“I met him when I was in the fifth grade,” said Pvt. Lucas Keller from Broken Arrow, Okla. “It was at his D.C. office, and he signed my baseball"I still have it.”
While the majority of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, "Task Force Thunderbird," Oklahoma Army National Guard, will deploy soon to Afghanistan, two battalions will deploy to Kuwait to assure freedom of movement and continuity of operations there. The unit is headquartered in Norman, Okla.
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