Wisconsin Soldiers depart Indiana for Germany, Kosovo

By Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDue
Wisconsin National Guard

Approximately 200 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers have arrived at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany for three additional weeks of training before deploying to Kosovo.

Soldiers from the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 32nd Military Police Company, 238th Aviation Regiment and 248th Aviation Support Battalion, having completed mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., have teamed up with Soldiers from at least seven other states to form Multi-National Battle Group-East, a component of Kosovo Force 15 totaling more than 600 Soldiers.

"These Soldiers have gained invaluable training over the last two months - training that simulates scenarios they may face in Kosovo," said Col. Jeffrey Liethen, KFOR 15 commander. "I believe they've taken their training seriously and proven to 1st Army they are deployment ready."

Capt. Luella Dooley-Menet, commander of the aviation task force, said her team of aviators - who expect to get at least three calls a week for patient and medical supply transfer in Kosovo - are right on pace with training at Camp Atterbury.

"Everyone is doing very well and I'm happy with the way things are going," she said.

Dooley-Menet said her team has applied a crawl-walk-run philosophy to their training. The Soldiers, from the West Bend-based 238th Aviation Regiment and 248th Aviation Support Battalion, are currently being validated on flying night missions by 1st Army - the organization that certifies all units are competent to perform the mission prior to deploying.

Spc. Taria Johnson, of the 32nd Military Police Company, last deployed to Iraq in 2009 where her unit was mostly responsible for detainee operations. She said she is thrilled with the training accomplished at Atterbury.

"It's actually nice to do actual military police operations." Johnson said. "We have true scenarios for the mission we're going to do."

The MPs will be responsible for all of the law enforcement on post. Nine 32nd MP Soldiers have also been selected to the protective services detachment and will be responsible for safeguarding all distinguished visitors on the post.

Leaders from the Wisconsin National Guard visited with KFOR 15 Soldiers at Camp Atterbury Tuesday, Oct. 25.

"Your job is unbelievably important … so take this time to learn as much as you can," Command Sgt. Maj. George Stopper said to a group of Soldiers.

The bulk of the Wisconsin Soldiers are members of the 157th MEB, which includes military police, civil affairs, engineering, signal and chemical units. The MEB, along with its headquarters company, will oversee operations for the entire Multi-National Battle Group-East, which also includes units from Armenia, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Romania and the Ukraine.

"These Soldiers may have come from many different units but, after training here together, they are leaving as one collective unit," Liethen said. "I am proud of their commitment and progress, and I am proud to serve with them as part of Multi-National Battle Group-East."