Rhinehorse Spirit gauges 21st TSC unit’s readiness

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Tramel S. Garrett
21st TSC Public Affairs


Soldiers of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 1st Human Resources Sustainment Center participated in a training exercise entitled “Rhinehorse Spirit” Sept. 27 on Rhine Ordnance Barracks.

Rhinehorse Spirit is an exercise focused on measuring the readiness of the Reception, Staging and Onward Movement Division of the 1st HRSC. The RSO is one of five divisions that form 1st HRSC. This exercise specifically focused on its Tactical Personnel System, the Evacuation Control Center and establishing a mobile post office.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Leslie Gillen, the RSO team chief, said Rhinehorse Spirit is an exercise that HRSC has developed to train Soldiers on the functions that are critical in maintaining theater accountability and evacuation procedures.

“Rhinehorse gives the Soldiers of the 1st HRSC a chance to develop or fine tune their training on functions that are performed when opening a theater gateway or sustained training for other human resource units,” Gillen said.

Spc. Jesus Estrada, a postal clerk and a native of Firebaugh, Calif., said he actually gained more experience dealing with diverse situations.

“I was able to see things clearer and pay attention to detail on certain packages,” he said.

Capt. Joe Roberts, postal officer and native of Lascassas, Tenn., said the ultimate goal is for Soldiers to be proficient.

“When we are deployed we want to be able to go out and properly inspect post offices so Soldiers downrange can receive their packages from home, which keeps their morale up,” he said. 

The 1st HRSC also trained on Evacuation Control Center procedures. This is used when a noncombatant crisis takes place and personnel are required to evacuate out of an area or country.

“This training was very important for our Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kironi Dugar, the RSO noncommissioned officer in charge and a native of Crowley, La. “This is the mission that we do if we actually deploy and it gets our Soldiers ready for real-life situations.”