A2 July 30, 2015 www.FortHoodSentinel.comNEWS

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BY STAFF SGT. CINDY TALLEY 1-62 ADA Regt., 69th ADA Bde.

Though it was mid-July and more than 90 degrees at the Great Place, that did not stop the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artil-lery Regiment “Aim High” from their mission-readiness activities.

In preparation for their sec-ond deployment since the unit’s activation in October 2011, the Aim High Soldiers conducted pre-deployment railhead operations, July 16-21.

The process of preparing the vehicles for the railhead is a lengthy process that involves several days of different stations, inspections, and readiness checks to ensure the battalion’s equipment is ready for deployment.

Prior to operations at the rail-head, all vehicles go through a series of inspections at both the battalion

motor pool, which are known as Movement Preparation Area Oper-ations, and the Fort Hood Deploy-ment Ready Reaction Field, also known as the DRRF.

Vehicle readiness at the battal-ion level is important, Spc. Isaac Haynes, a Patriot fire control enhanced operator/maintainer with Battery A, 1-62 ADA Regt., said.

“We do it because we need to keep the loading of vehicles safe,” Haynes said. “We start with MPA Ops (and) we take each and every vehicle through checks.”

Following MPA Ops, the Soldiers of the battalion and their equip-ment proceed to the DRRF, where they work with civilian contractors through a checklist of standards that must be met before moving on to the railhead.

“We’re currently employed in DRRF operations for weight and inspection of vehicles, in order for

us to transport them through the railhead for deployment,” said Sgt. Rafael Saucedo, a noncommis-sioned officer with Battery D, 1-62 ADA Regt.

After successfully completing the two prerequisites, the next and final step of transportation operations is the railhead.

The railhead provided an envi-ronment perfect for teamwork and the opportunity to work with their non-military counterparts, said Spc. Trevor Daniels, a Patriot enhanced operator/maintainer with 1-62 ADA Regt.

“We received classes and a safety brief,” Daniels explained. “From there, we got to work with the civilians on tying everything down, working as a team instead of work-ing just on your own vehicle.”

Daniels said the whole process expanded his knowledge on rail-head operations.

“I learned from the civilians,” Daniels said. “I definitely enjoyed it, got a little dirty, but it was defi-nitely enjoyable.”

Following the completion of rail-head operations, the vehicles and

equipment were transported to a port where they are loaded onto ships and carried to the unit’s area of responsibility across the water,’ which is a term used to signify a unit’s deployment.

Soldiers of 1-62 ADA Regt., 69th ADA Bde., line up their Patriot equipment and prepare it to be loaded onto the railhead on July 20, on Fort Hood in preparation for the unit’s upcoming overseas rotation.Photos by Staff Sgt. Cindy Talley, 1-62 ADA Regt.

Battalion conducts pre-deployment railhead operations

ABOVE, Soldiers of Btry. B, 1- 62 ADA Regt., “Aim High,” 69th ADA Bde., stand in front of their vehicles July 20, as they await vehicle inspections at the DRRF. The “Aim High” Soldiers conducted railhead operations in preparation for their upcoming deployment this fall. TOP, Spc. Justin Jenks, a medic with 1-62 ADA Regt., 69th ADA Bde., stands near his vehicle during DRRF operations July 17 at Fort Hood’s Railhead.

Soldiers of 1-62 ADA Regt. “Aim High,” 69th ADA Brigade, ground guide vehicles onto the tracks at the railhead on Fort Hood July 20.