Letter from the Captain

We have been here for 10 days now and the soldiers are doing very well. We are quickly establishing a reputation herefor being a great unit with strong leadership and motivated soldiers. The soldiers are settling into the routine here and are very busy. Mornings generally begin around 5:00 am. Soldiers typically train fromaround 7:00 am until 6:00 pm. However, several days have taken us until11:00 pm or later. The training is world-class and very challenging. Many of the instructors are soldiers who have recently returned from Iraq. Their experience is invaluable. In the short time we have been here, wehave already conducted training on first aid; how to handle and protect ourselves in a Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical (NBC) environment; proper actions in responding to artillery fire, Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs), and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). The past few days we learned and practiced training on how to move while someone is shooting at you. We call it Individual Movement Techniques (IMT). It was very intense and the soldiers left the training tired, motiviated, and more confident. Our weapons and equipment have been inspected and any deficiencies are being fixed here to ensure all of our equipment functions properly when we need it.

Today, our soldiers are receiving their Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) which is the best in the world. The living conditions are just fine. Soldiers live in a building very similar to a college dormatory. Soldiers generally live in a room with around 10 soldiers. We have several, large, community bathrooms on each floor. The building in is being upgraded with an Internet cafe that is set to open in the next couple of weeks. Soldiers will then have around 20 Internet connection sites they can plug into. The room will also have a wireless hub so soldiers with wireless capabiltiy will be able to use the Internet from in their rooms.

The food is good. We eat out of a dining facility that is set up like a cafeteria with a full salad bar, multiple main course selections, a short order line, and even an ice cream machine. Of course, when we are out training, we get to eat the infamous Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) which are like a rugged sack lunch with a long shelf live. All things considered, they're pretty good. In short, things are going very well. The soldiers are working very hard. Families, friends, and everyone from Minnesota should be very proud of these soldiers. They are proving that soldiers from Minnesota can and will do it better than anyone. As far as Camp Ripley potentially becoming a mobilization station, I'll refer you to the State National Guard PAO Office. Obviously, our soldiers would almost all choose to have an opportunity to mobilize and train right at Camp Ripley. However, the location isn't near as important to us as the quality of training. I am 100% confident that Camp Ripley could provide that quality training if given the chance. At the same time, I am also 100% confident that we are getting the training we need here.
CPT Mike Pazdernik