‘Always Ready’ battalion conducts training resiliency week

Soldiers, officers, NCOs and Department of the Army civilians from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 21st Special Troops Battalion went “back to basics” and conducted a training readiness week Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 in the KMC.

The training week afforded every member of the “Always Ready” battalion an opportunity to attend mandatory, annual classes regardless of their schedule. The 21st STB leadership ensured classes covering Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, cold weather driving and safety, Army Substance Abuse Program, equal opportunity, suicide prevention, law of war, fraternization, Threat Assessment and Reporting Program, sponsorship and the Hearing Protection Program were available daily at varying times to ensure every Soldier could attend. Subject matter specialists from the 21st TSC, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz and the KMC came to Kleber Kaserne’s KMC Onstage to instruct.

“This training week is an opportunity for Soldiers and civilians alike to get their annual, mandatory training completed without impacting their individual missions,” said Lt. Col. Patricia K. Wright, the 21st STB commander. “We are facilitators to improving the readiness of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command.”

The STB also gave Soldiers eight opportunities to take their semiannual Army physical fitness test. Testing personnel could perform their push-ups, sit-ups and two-mile run in the early morning or mid-afternoon as they chose. Having so many opportunities also afforded Soldiers a chance to retake their test if unhappy with an earlier attempt.

The battalion also provided Soldiers with the opportunity to qualify on their individual assigned weapons. The battalion ran daily weapons ranges at Breitenwald Range in Landstuhl. Firers qualified on the M-16A2 rifle or M9 pistol.

Soldiers also received hands-on Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear training. They learned the proper fit and wear of the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology, a protective suit worn in contaminated environments. They also learned to properly don their protective masks and tested them in the gas chamber.

Soldiers sometimes learned valuable, if somewhat painful, lessons in the chamber.

“My mask was not on properly when I entered the gas chamber, so I started coughing almost immediately,” said Staff Sgt. Crystal S. Newman, the enlisted strength management NCO for the 21st TSC personnel office. “This training is important to all Soldiers, and our instructor did a great job teaching us how to properly wear and check our masks.”

Finally, all Soldiers could update their personnel records with the battalion personnel office. They could submit new documents, awards or promotion orders at the Kleber Fitness Center.

“The goal this week was to ensure that every member of this team had the chance to update their information, get their training done, take the APFT and qualify with their weapon without hindering the 21st TSC mission,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Brian K. Mainor, the 21st STB command sergeant major. “We succeeded in getting the training, and it was a terrific training week.”