Transportation Units Make Long Haul to Bring Equipment Back to Illinois

By Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs

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Spc. Edgardo Serrano of Chicago with the 1244th Transportation Company in North Riverside, chains down a Howitzer cannon July 24 at Camp Ripley, Minn.

CAMP RIPLEY, MINN. (07/31/2012)(readMedia)-- As the Illinois National Guard's 2012 eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) came to a close July 28 at Camp Ripley Minn., drawdown operations were in full swing July 24 to 30 as transportation units hauled cargo back to Illinois.

Since early July more than 3,000 Illinois National Guardsmen trained in Camp Ripley as part of XCTC.

The 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago, took the lead with the redeployment of troops to home station.

The 1144th Transportation Battalion (Motor Transport) conducted line-haul missions taking cargo back to Illinois. The 1244th Transportation Company in North Riverside and 1744th Transportation Company in Crestwood, made the 1,000-mile round trip moving containers, vehicles and equipment between to the two states. The 1144th conducted more than 130 missions traveling roughly 364,000 miles and moving nearly 1.52 million pounds of cargo.

"In every stage of this mission, our sustainment operations have played a critical role," said Lt. Col. Tracey Collins of Naperville, 108th deputy commanding officer. "Now at the end of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's training, the 108th is still providing support as we get our Soldiers and our equipment home."

Collins said the transportation units in the 1144th have been the key players behind the scenes moving both the 108th and 33rd cargo.

"Whatever needs to be hauled, we'll have it on the road and back to the unit's home station," said Collins.

The 1144th and its subordinate units moved equipment to Camp Ripley before the arrival of the 33rd at Camp Ripley and moved it back to Illinois while the 33rd travelled home.

"There's a lot of moving pieces out there. Almost every day we've had Soldiers from the 1244th and our sister company, the 1744th, on the road between Illinois and Minnesota," said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Drabek with the 1244th. "They're out on the road, driving for hours to make sure this equipment gets home quickly and safely."

Drabek said this mission has allowed the drivers to gain experience behind the wheel in a real world setting.

"Our Soldiers are always mission first," said Drabek. "These guys are always ready for anything that may come down the road and they're always willing to help their fellow Soldiers."

U.S Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/ Spc. Edgardo Serrano of Chicago with the 1244th Transportation Company in North Riverside, chains down a Howitzer cannon July 24 at Camp Ripley, Minn. The 1244th and 1744th Transportation Companies made the 1,000-mile round trip moving containers, vehicles and equipment between Minnesota and Illinois.

U.S Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/ Sgt. Sonia Rivas of Garden Prairie and Pfc. Alexis Millan of Hanover Park both with the 1244th Transportation Company in North Riverside, chain down a Howitzer cannon July 24 at Camp Ripley, Minn. The 1244th and 1744th Transportation Companies made the 1,000-mile round trip moving containers, vehicles and equipment between Minnesota and Illinois.

U.S Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/ Soldiers with the 1244th Transportation Company in North Riverside, chain down a Howitzer cannon July 24 at Camp Ripley, Minn. The 1244th and 1744th Transportation Companies made the 1,000-mile round trip moving containers, vehicles and equipment between Minnesota and Illinois.