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The drive for combat

Feb-17-2008 » Filed Under: 56th SBCT

By Pete Kennedy, The Inquirer

Standing at the end of a double line of parked Stryker combat vehicles at the National Guard armory in Phoenixville, Capt. Anthony Passero watched the road. Four more of the green, eight-wheeled, 19-ton Strykers had just arrived from Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

"Winter is coming, and we're going to be called up for state missions," Passero said. "There's snow here, there's a flood here.'. . . When the governor sees a state of emergency, he calls the 56th Stryker Brigade."

But the roughly 4,000 soldiers of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 28th Division 56th Stryker Brigade - including the 150 soldiers of Passero's Bravo Company, 1st battalion, 111th infantry, who operate out of the West Chester and Phoenixville armories - are equipping themselves for more than just snow.

They will likely go to Iraq by the end of the year, with their 22-foot-long, 9-foot-wide, 9-foot-tall Strykers.

The men of Bravo Company gathered on the last Saturday in January at their respective armories for a monthly drill. While there are some women in the brigade, none are in Bravo Company.

For the first half of the cold, sunny day, most of the 40 or so soldiers based in Phoenixville received briefings on management of their personal lives: finances, health care, education.

In the afternoon, some of them viewed a PowerPoint presentation on operation of their M-4 rifles. Outside, drivers and commanders performed preventative maintenance checks and services on the Strykers they may soon take into battle.

"It's pretty exciting," said Staff Sgt. Matt Williford, 32, a West Chester native who now lives in Gap. He joined the 56th Brigade eight years ago, in the pre-Stryker days, when it was a mechanized infantry brigade. Last month, he became a squad leader.

"I'm in charge when we're in the Stryker. And once we get to an objective and dismount, I take charge of my two fire teams and close the hatches up," Williford said. "Then the Strykers take off and act as our support."

Rapid deployment of ground troops is what makes Strykers unique. A Stryker Brigade can deliver more men more quickly than any other brigade in the Army.

[...]


Comments For "The drive for combat":

To Whom It May Concern,

I am a member of this Brigade, and a member of Bravo Company 1/111th Inf. (Stryker). I can say first hand, Capt. Passero is an extrordinary leader. Any Soldier that did not follow that man into a combat zone would definately be on the down side of the situation. He is locked, cocked and ready to rock. I know that I can speech for all those in B. Company when I say that we will bust our humps (for lack of a better word, being professional) for our Commander. Sgt. Williford, I know him first hand as well. The man is all a young Soldier needs to look at and follow guidance from to succeed and come home from "OVER THERE". As well as all of our NCO's and Staff NCO's. They are the skilled and most experience leaders, and I know that the others and myself have full trust and confidence in their judgement and leadership.

Thank You
John K. Gugumuck
Specialist
United States Army (National Guard)
1st 111th Infanty
56th Stryker Brigade
West Cheater, Pa.

Posted by: Spc. John K. Gugumuck | June 16, 2008 9:21 PM

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