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Now It's More Than "Boot Shaking" For 1-17th

Oct- 8-2004 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

[Link to Article] (Photos included)
Story and photos by Cpl. Douglas DeMaio

FORT WAINWRIGHT – As troops from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment return from their field exercise, they discover damaged, broken and dirtied equipment.

Examining, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining equipment becomes a top priority, a course of action called refitting or recovery. This helps commanders determine combat readiness and helps validate the battalions deployability with 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

“Every time we come out of the field we have to go through a refitting process to get our equipment, supplies and personnel back to the level in which they need to, so we can deploy,” said Maj. Craig Triscari, executive officer, 1st Bn., 17th Inf. Reg.

During the systematic process, the unit transitions through four phases of recovery.

The first phase, an accountability stage, takes place during the first few days of the unit returning from the field. Soldiers account for items they brought to the field, clean and inspect equipment.

The second phase focuses on repair and maintenance. This is the first refitting process for the battalion and for many Soldiers to repair a Stryker.

“It’s always going to be hard when you’re dealing with new equipment,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Ballejo, Company B squad leader.

There are a lot of differences between being light infantry and a motorized force, Triscari said.

“No longer are you just shaking off your boots,” Triscari said. “Now you have platform weapon systems you have to take care of.” The time it takes to recover increases dramatically.

“(Before, ) your boots took you to the battlefield,” Triscari said. “Now we are being driven into the battlefield, and if those systems are not up and operational, Soldiers can’t function at 100 percent capability.”

Sgt. James Upshaw, 3rd platoon vehicle commander, Co. B., said repairs to the Stryker don’t seem to be an issue.

“These maintenance guys are on it,” Upshaw said. “They have the money and the parts to get the job done in a day or two.”

The biggest difference the unit seems to be contending with is integrating the Strykers into a unit that is primarily made up of light infantry personnel, Ballejo said. Mechanized infantrymen have the base knowledge to deal with heavy equipment in the motor pool.

Upshaw said with hard, intensive, prolonged training, the unit will become more confident and accelerate 1-17’s ability to refit more quickly.

Although important on the overall spectrum of refitting, phases three and four are inspection phases which give commanders, from company to brigade, confirmation of the inspected unit’s combat readiness.

The most important thing Soldiers need to know about refitting is that it is a proactive method to help with readiness, Triscari said.


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