Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team practice tactics for clearing buildings during urban operations training
State and Federal lawmakers, along with observers from the group Employer Support of the Guard, visited with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 50th Infantry Combat Team prior to their departure for Iraq. Employer Support of the Guard is a DoD organization meant to educate employers as to the sacrifice and commitment being made by reservists called up to duty. One of those Guardsmen is Jason Mull of Oakland, NJ.
Reservists often leave behind families that make their own sacrifice, as is the case of Jason who is a father. Other times, the tradition of military service means family are called up together. The NJ troops included eight pairs of brothers and sisters, two pairs of mothers and sons and five pairs of fathers and sons.
Amongst other training skills, the soldiers were recently treated to a staged riot where they were cursed and attacked by a mob of anti-American demonstrators. It simulated the unconventional combat environment American soldiers face in Iraq. The soldiers also received specialized training in prisoner detention. After previous scandals, the DoD is especially sensitive to the training provided to the soldiers.
This is the largest deployment of New Jersey Citizen-Soldiers since World War II.
The Journal requests that readers submit the names of other residents serving in combat zones.