Yakima Training Center, Wash. -- Some Soldiers can spend a full 20-year career in the Army without ever meeting a general up close, let alone their commanding general. This was not the case May 10 for Soldiers participating in 2nd Chemical Battalion's full-scale exercise, which started April 30 and ends on May 22. Brigadier General Leslie D. Smith, commanding general of the 20th Support Command (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., honored troops with a visit to all three key sites spread out near Yakima Training Center (YTC).
General Smith flew in for his visit to view training for himself, but more importantly to visit with CBRNE Soldiers.
"The team from Army North and units from the 2nd Chemical Battalion along with every unit that they've brought onboard, has shown how we can integrate training and capabilities," said Smith.
2nd Chemical Battalion led by Lt. Col. Christopher J. Cox, has implemented the Defense CBRNE Response Force (DCRF) training elements simultaneously with this exercise. This integrated exercise will benefit over 800 Soldiers from six installations with homeland security training on how to effectively respond to any potential CBRNE threats.
This battalion has seven chemical companies spread throughout four separate Army installations (Fort Hood, Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, and Fort Riley), which can make unit level combined training very difficult at times. However, the battalion found a way to gather and fully engage them all in joint-unit training operating as a battalion task force. Not only are they training at YTC, but also within the city of Yakima, Umatilla Chemical Depot, Ore., and the Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) testing site in Richland, Wash.
"The nation wants the active duty force more involved in defense of the homeland and we're a ready, trained and a capable force willing, and desiring to help our fellow citizens," said Lt. Col. Cox.
He showed the general how his troops fully embraced the DCRF training and understood the severity of always being ready in the event they are called upon for a homeland security mission.
"Any Soldier that can tie what they're doing, directly to the safety, security, stability of their friends, family and neighbors that always helps inspire them, makes them value they're commitment to the nation even more knowing they can be of direct assistance if needed," explained Cox.
The general reinforced this statement from Lt. Col. Cox and was very proud to explain it.
"The homeland defense mission is mission number one for the United States," said Smith. "These Soldiers that are training for the mission are allocated to only do missions in the United States."
"Hopefully, we never have to execute it," he added. "We prepare the Soldiers to focus toward being on an operational mission, so they have to be ready to execute and complete the mission."
Soldiers took pride in their training and were given an additional boost in morale when they saw the general pay them a visit.
"It's a big motivation and always nice to see leadership, not just officers but any leadership engaged with what the Soldiers are doing," said Sgt. Jarayle D. Williams from the 44th Chemical Company, Fort Hood.
"I've seen General Smith before at other training that I've done over the years." He added. "Always a very nice person, always actively engaged and wondering what the Soldiers are doing. He sets the example of leadership on how to engage with the Soldiers."
At the HAMMER testing site, there were Soldiers from the 172nd, 181st and 31st Chemical Company.
"It's great to see everybody get together within the battalion and see everybody work as one whole unit," said Spc. Walter J. Hanks, 172nd Chemical Company.
The general spoke with as many Soldiers as possible at each training site. At the end of the day, he was proud of his visit and the opportunity to see the combined unit training first hand.
"These Soldiers are doing great things, many times under the radar compared to the larger-scale military operations, but all of them are critical to the execution of the global mission," said Smith. "Thanks for all the hard work to those who put this together and the part in which they play to keep our nation safe."
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