Before the end of the month, over 150 of New Hampshire National Guard will be on their way to Iraq.
The Concord-based 36-43rd is a maintenance company.
But in Iraq, its year-long mission will be to provide security for convoys and for moving prisoners.
In order to train for their mission, the men and women of the 36-43 have spent the past two months at Camp Shelby in Mississippi.
WKXL reporter Dave Shurtleff recently visited the soldiers at their training facility.
He files this report.
CAMP SHELBY SITS JUST 60 MILES FROM GULFPORT MISSISSIPPI.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE CITIES MOST DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE KATRINA LAST YEAR.
THIS IS THE DEEP SOUTH AND IT'S LATE SUMMER.
THE AIR IS HOT, IT'S VERY HUMID AND NOTHING'S MOVING.
NAT SOUND THROUGHTOUT. WITH RISES AND FADES
….EXCEPT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF NH'S 36-43RD.
THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR MORNING TRAINING.
AND THEY ARE CLEARLY FEELING THE HEAT.
ON THIS DAY, ACCORDING TO SOLDIERS, IT'S COOLER THAN USUAL,
IT'S ONLY 91.
SOLDIER ON WEATHER’ :12 Q: ALL ALONG
Oh, it’s been hot and muggy. Today…it seems that cleared out, that’s a bit better for the soldiers. (How hot has it got here?) Oh, at least 120 anyways. Heat index is Cap-5 by 9 in the morning
THIS EXERCISE HAS THE SOLDIERS CRAWLING FULLY EQUIPPED MORE THAN 50 YARDS ACROSS A ROCKY FIELD CRACKED BY THE HEAT.
STAFF SERGEANT DONALD SMITH LIVES IN HOOKSETT.
THIS WILL BE HIS THIRD TOUR IN IRAQ.
HE POINTS OUT THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE SOLDIERS IS WEARING 45-POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT
AND THEY WEAR IT EVERY DAY NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE..
SOLDIER HEAVY GEAR’ :17 Q: PRETTY MUCH IT
Ballistic vest—weighs approximately 40lbs. All the magazine holders…first aid kit…all of our safety gear and personal protective equipment…elbow and knee pads. We just grounded, so we had those on. Our ACH…our Advanced Combat Helmet. Our M4’s, our M9-pistol. That’s pretty much it.
BUT CONPANY SPOKESMAN, MAJOR GREG HEILSHORN SAYS THE TRAINING IN THIS HEAT IS GOOD PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING MISSION.
ONCE THE SOLIDERS ARE USED TO THE SOUTHERN HEAT AND HUMIDITY, IRAQ’S HOT, BONE-DRY CLIMATE MAY BE A RELIEF..
HEILS—MOTIVATED DEMANDS’ :14 Q: THESE GUYS
You know, part of everyone’s training is physical fitness, and this is where it comes in. You’ll get scraped knees and elbows, and out here in this Mississippi heat…its probably a little more intense for these guys.
THIRTY MEMBERS OF THE 36-43RD HAVE ALREADY SERVED TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN.
NOW WITH JUST WEEKS BEFORE THEY LEAVE, COMPANY COMMANDER CAPTAIN TONY GAGNON SAYS HE THINKS HIS ENTIRE UNIT IS READY FOR ACTION.
‘GAGNON—LOOKING FORWARD’ :10 Q: WITH THEM
You know, its not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be a tough mission, but we’ve stuck together through some very tough training events so far, and I look forward to moving on with them.
NAT SOUND FADE-IN THE GUN CLEANING SOUNDS
THE DAY’S TRAINING EXCISES HAVE ENDED.
AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 36-43RD SECURITY FORCE RELAX AS THEY EMPTY THEIR AMMUNITION INTO METAL CANS.
NAT SOUND: ROOM SOUND
THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR UPCOMING MISSION.
AND CAPTAIN GAGNON ADMITS THAT THE TOUGEST PART OF IT ALL IS LEAVING HIS HOME AND FAMILY FOR A YEAR.
’GAGNON—FIRST CHRISTMAS’ :17 Q: GET THROUGH
Oh, oh…absolutely. That will be the toughest part…missing the wife, and the kids, and the family events. As an example, we won’t be home for Christmas this year. It will be my first Christmas away from home—not just mine, but all of us soldiers here. So it will be difficult to get through.
GAGNON POINTS OUT THAT MANY OF HIS TROOPS ARE MARRIED OR HAVE CHILDREN.
FOR SINGLE-PARENT SOLDIERS, THEIR CHALLENGE MAY BE THE GREATEST OF ALL:
SPECIALIST JESS ZALAS IS ONE OF SEVERAL MOTHERS SERVING IN THE 3643RD.
SHE'S 21-YEARS-OLD AND HAS A 2 YEAR OLD SON NAMED TROY….A SON SHE SAYS IS THE CUTEST KID IN THE WORLD.
ZALAS—WHAT SHE MISSES’ :24 Q: DOING A GOOD THING
Oh, I’ll miss him a lot…can’t wait to go see him again. {Crying} Some of the little things…his smile, silly cries…tantrums. Just coming home from work everyday, and knowing that you are a mom, and that you have to show him what it’s like to be a parent and adult. Show him a good role model, and hopefully he’s learning that…his mom is doing a good thing.
ZALAS' FATHER, A 13 YEAR ARMY VETERAN IS NOW TAKING CARE OF HER SON, WHILE SHE'S GONE TO WAR.
AMBIENCE OF TRAINING (DO WE HAVE ANY YELLING, ETC.
THE TRAINING OF THE 36-43 WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THEY DEPLOY LATER THIS MONTH.
THE SOLDIERS FEEL CERTAIN THAT WHEN THEY GET TO THE IRAQ, THEY WILL BE PREPARED FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING…..
THE HARDEST PART OF THE MISSION, THEY SAY, WILL BE LEAVING THOSE THEY LOVE.
FOR NHPR NEWS, I'M DAVE SHURTLEFF.
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