Maryland Employers Visit Employees During
Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey
July 26, 2007

 

On July 26, 2007, the Maryland ESGR Committee held a one-day Bosslift mission to Ft. Dix, taking 36 employers to see first hand their employees training for deployment to Iraq .

The day began with the employers arriving at the Maryland Air National Guard's Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport in Baltimore at 7 a.m. The guests assembled in the base dining hall and were provided a continental breakfast. Following breakfast, the group received a welcome briefing from Colonel Brian Neal, the commander of the 135th Airlift Group. They also heard Colonel Ben Jablecki, Maryland ESGR Committee Executive Director, give an overview of the day's planned events. Next the group got an aircraft safety briefing and went through military aircraft security processing (similar to civilian airport screening) and boarded the aircraft. The group flew to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey on a C-130J from the 135th Airlift Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard. After landing at McGuire AFB, the group took a 30 minute bus ride to Fort Dix.

Upon arrival at Fort Dix, the group was met by Lieutenant Colonel James Gehring of the Maryland Army National Guard. LTC Gehring briefed the employers on the training site and simulated desert city. Members of the 115th and 175 Light Infantry, Maryland Army National Guard, were in training for deployment to Iraq and other areas. While at Fort Dix, the soldiers received intensive training in several mock towns, designed to simulate the environment in Iraq. The training areas are void of trees and vegetation--mostly sand, dirt and dust. The employers were given a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) for lunch which they ate in the field with their soldiers. The employers were allowed to observe training of their employees practicing gaining entrance to various buildings and how to handle hostile situations as part of employees Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training. The employers also got the opportunity to learn small arms training, don the helmets and protective vests that the soldiers wear to protect themselves and some were even given the chance to ride in a Humvee and fly back to McGuire AFB on a Maryland Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to meet up with the C-130J for return to Baltimore. The return flight to Baltimore was on time and the group completed their mission at 5:00 pm .

Registration, In-Briefing and a C-130J Flight to McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
 
Employers Visiting Their Employees (Maryland National Guard Soldiers) at Fort Dix
 
 
On to the "Forward Operating Base" Training Site for MOUT Training
This specialized training area gives troops experience in fighting in an urban environment - both in the streets and "clearing" rooms and buildings. To provide realistic training, role-players are used to represent local citizens, insurgents, clerics, politicians, journalists and other types of people with whom soldiers will typically have to interact.
Time to Load Up on the Blackhawk Helicopters and Head Back to McGuire AFB for the C-130J Return Flight to Maryland