|
Sgt. Christopher Johnston
3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - For two soldiers currently deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, they're living a life normally reserved for television and movie storylines. Sgt. 1st Class Kevin A. Gardner and Spc. Kevin A. Gardner Jr., both of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are father and son experiencing Gardner Jr.'s first deployment, together.
Gardner Sr., a maintenance supervisor and Cleveland native, joined the Army Reserves in September 1992 and switched to active duty July 1993.
He recalls being at work and receiving a phone call from his son almost three years ago.
"'Can you come down to the recruiter to help me pick my job?' I was there in about five minutes," said the elder Gardner. "I always wanted my son to go to college, but he told me that school was not for him."
"I had mixed emotions about him joining the Army, but when he graduated from basic training at Fort Sill, Okla., I couldn't be more proud of my son," said the elder Gardner.
Their career paths crossed for the first time at Camp Casey, Korea, where Gardner Jr. was ending his rotation in Korea, and his father was beginning his. A year later, they crossed again at Fort Benning, Ga.
"It was the luck of the draw," said the elder Gardner. "Neither of us requested to be sent to the same unit."
"People always told me they had never heard of a father and son at the same unit," said the younger Gardner, an automated logistical specialist and Savannah, Ga., native. "Let alone deploy together."
However, in June 2012, the father and son team boarded a plane; destination, Kuwait.
Deploying with your father can have its ups and downs. For the younger Gardner, his father is a role model and family support, but sometimes the younger Gardner is the target of a few friendly jests from his peers.
"I hear it all," said the younger Gardner. "Like, �you know your dad is just a phone call away.' And, �if you mess up I'm gonna tell your daddy.'" With an offhanded smile he explains, "There was no getting around that, but my dad isn't always watching over my shoulder."
"I try not to overdo it," said the elder Gardner. "I try to let him be his own man, allow him to experience life and the Army on his own."
Although the father and son duo give each other their space, there has always been friendly family competition between them, whether out on the basketball court, or taking the Army Physical Fitness Test.
"At the moment, I am currently the PT (Physical Training) King," said the younger Gardner.
They looked at each other with identical smiles, "My son can run faster than me, but I don't know about out doing me in PT."
During the 203rd BSB patch ceremony at Camp Buehring, the younger Gardner received his patch from his father.
"This isn't the only thing you are gonna pin on me," the younger Gardner said as he plans to attend next month's promotion board to get promoted to sergeant.
"I couldn't tell you how proud that made me feel," said the elder Gardner. "Knowing he was in it for the long haul."
With the elder Gardner approaching retirement, the family military torch will soon be handed over to his son.
"I love my son, and I know he loves me," said the elder Gardner. "I am experiencing something a lot of fathers dream of. They wish they were there to see their son grow and become a man. I am here experiencing it."
Sgt. Christopher Johnston
3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait- As one brigade completes its mission and its mark in history, another brigade begins the journey to make a mark of its own.
An assumption of mission ceremony was held today between the Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, and the Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Benning, Ga.
As part of the ceremony, Col. Scott L. Efflandt and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert F. Leimer, commander and sergeant major, respectively, of 1st BCT, 1st Cav., cased their colors, representing the end of the Ironhorse Brigade's mission in Kuwait.
"The best part of this color casing ceremony, beside the eminent return to our families," said Effandt. "Is that forward progress will continue; the Sledgehammer Brigade will no doubt continue to build what we have started here."
The Ironhorse Brigade deployed in July 2011 to Iraq as an advise and assist brigade focused on building Iraq's military capabilities and ensuring adequate security of Iraq by the Iraqi Security Forces. The unit ended America's mission in Iraq as the last brigade to exit the country in December 2011.
The Ironhorse Brigade then redeployed to Kuwait in support of Third Army/U.S. Army Central.
After the casing of the Ironhorse Brigade's colors, Col. Johnnie L. Johnson Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Harrison, commander and sergeant major, respectively, of 3rd ABCT, uncased the Sledgehammer Brigade's colors, assuming Ironhorse's mission in Kuwait.
"This is truly an exciting day for the Sledgehammer Brigade," said Johnson. "Our deployment to the [Central Command] area of responsibility marks the culmination of many months of training and preparation."
The Sledgehammer Brigade will conduct training and joint exercises with its Kuwaiti counterparts and continue the military-to-military cooperation with Kuwait and other regional partners.
Sgt. Christopher Johnston
3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Elements of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, arrived in Kuwait to conduct security cooperation, joint exercises and training with partner nations in the region.
The deployment is in accordance with the United States' long standing bilateral defense partnership with Kuwait, promoting security, stability, and the two countries' mutual interests in the region.
Sledgehammer soldiers will be dedicated to training and fine tuning their mission readiness during their time in Kuwait.
"The adverse climate and terrain offers great opportunities to train in conditions unlike the ones we have back at Fort Benning," said Chief Warrant Officer 2, Mauriese Jones, 3rd HBCT targeting officer.
The Udairi Range and similar sites in Kuwait afford 3rd HBCT the opportunity to conduct live fire exercises and battle simulations which mirror real world combat environments.
"It's all about the mindset," said Private First Class, Richard Chae, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd HBCT. "You get out here and you train with that mindset and it will be more like second nature when it actually goes down."
The Sledgehammer Brigade is part of a larger U.S. mission to continue security cooperation efforts with critical regional partners.
|
