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Serving our country in more ways than one, Congressman Trent
Kelly can wear any shirt when he's needed, whether it be
representing the Army or representing the House, he can transition
without any hesitation.
Congressman Trent Kelly Soldiers did
so in June 2016 with the Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG)
soldiers who were participating in the Multi-echelon Integrated
Brigade Training exercise (MiBT) at Fort Hood. The MiBT showcases
the partnership of the MSARNG 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team
(ABCT) and active components of the 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, and First Army.
Congressman Trent Kelly,
or Colonel Kelly, commander, 168th Engineer Brigade, as he's known
to MSARNG counterparts, reflected on his support of the 155 ABCT.
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Congressman Trent Kelly
with a picture of "The Mississippi Rifles" for presentation to
Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG) officers participating in the training at Fort Hood on June 11, 2016. (Mississippi National Guard photo by Sgt. DeUndra Brown, 102d Public Affairs Detachment)
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“This is the brigade that I served in combat with, the 155 BCT,
and as a Mississippi Guardsmen who currently serves and knowing all
these guys,” Kelly said, “To see how hard they train, to see how
difficult it is and how complex; it also shows the work ability in
the active component, the reserve, and National Guard from several
different states all working together to make sure we achieve one
common goal and that's to defend this great nation.”
His
visit to Fort Hood tied into both jobs that he holds. He wanted to
show his Congressional counterparts how their jobs can have an
affect on military, since less than 18 percent has served in any
capacity, Kelly stated.
“My job relates pretty good because
some of these are my Soldiers, and everything we do in Congress, I
think the keystone or cornerstone, to all this is defending this
great nation of ours. I'm on the (agriculture) committee. Chairman
Miller and several of those guys who aren't in armed services, its
important that we make sure our Congress has an understanding
because less and less of our congressman have served in any
capacity.
Kelly feels the only way to show them how things
get done and what is needed, is to bring them to the fight.
“It's important that we tell our story and we show our story, and
its no better way than doing that by showing our Soldiers at war. A
lot of people talk about the readiness of the army this is an
opportunity for our real national leaders to see our real Soldiers
in action.”
Kelly served at Fort Hood in '88, '89, ‘90 and
several times since then but never had he seen things come together
like they did for the Soldiers and the materials that were needed.
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Congressman Trent Kelly explains to Congressman Dan Newhouse Paladin
maneuvering on the battlefield at Fort Hood on June 11, 2016.
(Mississippi National Guard photo by Sgt. DeUndra Brown, 102d Public Affairs Detachment)
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“One of the greatest thing we had, Lt General Tucker was
integral on this, the law, Congress said long time ago, said
we could use other peoples equipment, if we're in the army.
Its one Army and the equipment is all ours, just because you
maintain it all the time, and so its never been used. And
with decreasing resources the amount that it cost to
transport pieces of equipment from one location to another
we save millions of dollars, probably hundreds of millions
of dollars, and we fall in on equipment and it also
replicates what we have to in an immature combat theatre
expeditionary type force,” said Kelly.
If there were
concerns about the Soldiers completing the overall mission,
his main concern was their safety.
“I'm very pleased
because we got everybody from Camp Shelby and Mississippi
here. That movement piece is such an integral part of the
training that you have to know that if you fail at that you
can't do the rest, so that was really important. Once we got
our here, like I've said, I've trained and gone to combat
with these guys before; so as far as their capabilities I
know their good.
The training site offered many
benefits for the Soldiers training.
“Fort Hood
provides a training environment that they couldn't find
anywhere else in the world, and the First Army, III Corp,
1st Cav Division, and Kansas National Guard, they have all
plugged in to make sure this training experience all lined
up.”
By U.S. Army Sgt. DeUndra Brown, MSARNG
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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