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345th Combat Support Hospital Starts Post-Mobilization Training

By 1st Lt. Marvin J. Baker

120th Infantry Brigade Public Affairs Officer

After nearly a year of training and preparation, the Soldiers of the 345th Combat Support Hospital arrived at North Fort Hood, Texas, April 6 to begin a 24-day post-mobilization training regimen under the guidance of the 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West.

Division West is responsible for conducting post-mobilization training for National Guard and Army Reserve units and conducts its training using the theater immersion concept, which puts Soldiers in a simulated combat environment throughout their training period. Afterwards, First Army Division West certifies the unit's readiness for combat.

"The mobilization of the 345th CSH (a Florida Army Reserve unit), has been somewhat of an experiment," said Capt. Cindy Schneider, B Company Commander.

In the past, units like the 345th spent some 120 days at a mobilization site. The Army Reserve Medical Command's goal for the 345th is less than 40 days conducting post-mobilization training. In order to meet that goal, the unit's Soldiers spent much of last year earning medical training certifications, completing military occupational schools, and testing those skills during two-week training exercises, Schneider said.

"We started last June. Army Reserve Medical Command wanted to decrease medical unit's time at military training centers. That's a good thing because it gives us more time at home before we deploy," she said.

In June, the unit spent two weeks in South Dakota at the Joint Thunder training exercises, two weeks at the Joint Readiness Training Center in La., in October, and several days recently at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. conducting weapons' training and foreign language training she said.

The on and off again active duty training status for the unit's Soldiers kept them busy and caused some to quickly rearrange their own goals.

"In my civilian job, I am a clinical nurse educator at a hospital. Before we were alerted, I was working slowly toward earning my masters degree. After the deployment alert, I rearranged my schedule and completed my degree in December," Schneider said.

Now Schneider and her fellow Soldiers will start working on completing their final training requirements before they deploy.

"Now that we are finished with all of the pre-mobilization training, I think most of us are relieved to finally be in one place where we can focus on our jobs here and look forward to our mission overseas," said Schneider.