The following report was written by Jake Lowary of the Leaf-Chronicle. Its focus is on the 508th and 550th Engineer Battalion (Firefighters) as they prepared to leave Fort Campbell for a deployment to Afghanistan, where they are poised to make history as the only Army firefighters deployed to theater for their specific firefighting duties.
Firefighters deploy from Fort Campbell
Soldiers leaving for Afghanistan to take on that specific purpose
By JAKE LOWARY • The Leaf-Chronicle • August 7, 2009
For the first time in the Global War on Terror, trained Army firefighters deployed to Afghanistan from Fort Campbell on Thursday.
Eight soldiers with the 508th Engineer Detachment, who are all trained firefighters and EMTs, set out for Afghanistan, making them the first unit of trained firefighters to deploy with that specific purpose to a combat zone. Today, seven more soldier-firefighters with the 550th Engineer Detachment will also deploy for 12 months.
Many of the soldiers in the 508th were making their first trip overseas. The unit has been training since it was reactivated at Fort Campbell in 2006 as part of the 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade.
"I hope I get to do some firefighting," said Sgt. Robert Brown, who is beginning his first deployment.
Soldiers trained as firefighters have deployed before, but not in that specific skill set. They have always been reallocated or reassigned to other units specializing in other tasks.
Brown's excited that the last six months of hard training are about to pay off.
"It's good they're using us for what we're trained to do," he said.
The soldiers are deploying on 12-month orders. Initially they will be in Kandahar, but each detachment could end up at different forward operating bases.
They work much like other firefighters. They often train and support their civilian counterparts at Fort Campbell, but now they are wearing full body armor and carrying a semi-automatic assault rifle.
"The difference (between a civilian firefighter) is you have the possibility of going into a building with live ammunition or other ordnance," said Spc. Robby Rothwell, who's also beginning his first deployment.
Staff Sgt. Wayne Keaton used to be the non-commissioned officer in charge of the unit before handing over to Staff Sgt. Derek Caterinicchio.
Keaton said there's potential danger around many different turns, but the 508th has trained on every type of vehicle and aircraft they might encounter while deployed.
"They're definitely ready to go," he said.
Keaton said the Fort Campbell firefighters have been more than helpful in getting the 508th trained and ready to go.
"It's a symbiotic relationship," he said.
Deploying for the first time can be tough on the mind. No matter how much training a soldier gets, there is always an unknown.
"There's always the thought in the back of your mind you don't know what it will look like or be like," said Spc. Armando Uribe, 23.
Uribe and Rothwell have known each other for several years and are each other's battle buddy. The brotherhood among the men is thick, Rothwell said.
"We've gone into burning buildings together," Rothwell said. "There's nothing I wouldn't trust these guys with."
Even though they have each other to get them through, the harsh reality of a deployment set in before they left Thursday.
"Actually setting my will for the first time," Rothwell said. "That was pretty scary at 25."
Soldiers leaving for Afghanistan to take on that specific purpose
By JAKE LOWARY • The Leaf-Chronicle • August 7, 2009
For the first time in the Global War on Terror, trained Army firefighters deployed to Afghanistan from Fort Campbell on Thursday.
Eight soldiers with the 508th Engineer Detachment, who are all trained firefighters and EMTs, set out for Afghanistan, making them the first unit of trained firefighters to deploy with that specific purpose to a combat zone. Today, seven more soldier-firefighters with the 550th Engineer Detachment will also deploy for 12 months.
Many of the soldiers in the 508th were making their first trip overseas. The unit has been training since it was reactivated at Fort Campbell in 2006 as part of the 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade.
"I hope I get to do some firefighting," said Sgt. Robert Brown, who is beginning his first deployment.
Soldiers trained as firefighters have deployed before, but not in that specific skill set. They have always been reallocated or reassigned to other units specializing in other tasks.
Brown's excited that the last six months of hard training are about to pay off.
"It's good they're using us for what we're trained to do," he said.
The soldiers are deploying on 12-month orders. Initially they will be in Kandahar, but each detachment could end up at different forward operating bases.
They work much like other firefighters. They often train and support their civilian counterparts at Fort Campbell, but now they are wearing full body armor and carrying a semi-automatic assault rifle.
"The difference (between a civilian firefighter) is you have the possibility of going into a building with live ammunition or other ordnance," said Spc. Robby Rothwell, who's also beginning his first deployment.
Staff Sgt. Wayne Keaton used to be the non-commissioned officer in charge of the unit before handing over to Staff Sgt. Derek Caterinicchio.
Keaton said there's potential danger around many different turns, but the 508th has trained on every type of vehicle and aircraft they might encounter while deployed.
"They're definitely ready to go," he said.
Keaton said the Fort Campbell firefighters have been more than helpful in getting the 508th trained and ready to go.
"It's a symbiotic relationship," he said.
Deploying for the first time can be tough on the mind. No matter how much training a soldier gets, there is always an unknown.
"There's always the thought in the back of your mind you don't know what it will look like or be like," said Spc. Armando Uribe, 23.
Uribe and Rothwell have known each other for several years and are each other's battle buddy. The brotherhood among the men is thick, Rothwell said.
"We've gone into burning buildings together," Rothwell said. "There's nothing I wouldn't trust these guys with."
Even though they have each other to get them through, the harsh reality of a deployment set in before they left Thursday.
"Actually setting my will for the first time," Rothwell said. "That was pretty scary at 25."
Jake Lowary covers military affairs. He can be reached at 245-0719 or by e-mail at jakelowary@theleafchronicle.com.
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