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Junior Soldiers supply WAREX positivity

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Ferdinand Thomas
  • 321st Sustainment Brigade
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Each and every year, Army Reserve Soldiers are required to complete annual training, which is two weeks of intense combat readiness training. This year, the 321st Sustainment Brigade, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, started 2015 with a new challenge called WAREX.

This training is a month-long culmination exercise incorporating more than 20 combat support units simulating life on and off a Forward Operating Base in a war torn country. Every section of every unit has obstacles to overcome. However, the supply section may have one of the most difficult tasks to complete.

"It's five of us on my team and we're supplying many essential items for more than 1,000 Soldiers participating in this exercise," said Army Staff Sgt. Rosemary Lopez, 321st Sustainment Brigade Supply NCO in charge. "We've accomplished each task, each day, because of the team. I have great Soldiers. We work hard and we have a good time in Supply."

Two names rose above the rest, as Lopez described her Soldiers, in both Pfc. Jermey Selders and Spc. Brandon J. Zanders. Accountability at the highest level and positive attitudes in the face of adversity help drive a mission to success. Lopez illustrates the importance of these Soldiers' helpful qualities as mission essential.

Selders, a supply specialist, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, joined the Army as a truck driver and later found his calling in the Supply section of the 321st. The six-year junior enlisted Soldier has supplied thousands of troops in his three years as a supply Soldier. Even his civilian profession is focused on supply. Selders works for the East Baton Rouge School System and is part of a team which stocks each school with food for their children's lunches.

"This is important. You can't be successful without Supply," Selders said. "I'll be honest. Soldiers need their gear to make sure they're working efficiently and effectively. Having the proper gear helps keep troops safe. It's our job to make sure we supply them with the necessities to keep the mission moving forward seamlessly. This operation would not run without Supply."

Lopez credits Selders as one of the spearheads at documenting the supplies coming in and out of their section. All military supplies are signed out and tracked using a Department of the Army Form 2062. Many of those forms were hand written for WAREX since the Soldiers didn't have regular access to computers and modern technology. The amount of organization and planning needed to supply in such large numbers would most likely seems immense to many individuals. Supply Soldiers from the 321st describe this challenge as just another day in the life.

"Retrieving and distributing the supplies was the easy part. When the exercise is complete and we prepare to leave will be our most difficult task. Everything we supplied to the Soldiers will need to be taken back, inventoried and completely packed for the trip back to Baton Rouge," says Zanders.

Zanders' career is also centered in Supply. The Soldier, from Hammond, Louisiana, entered the Army seven years ago and has been helping the Army Reserve achieve success ever since. His noncommissioned officer in charge, Staff Sgt. Lopez, says he is the glue that holds their team together in tough times.

"He is about getting the job done. When we're tired and still have lots to do, Spc. Zanders keeps a positive attitude and that energy transfers giving us life. He is a key part of our team," Lopez said.

Positivity and great accountability are some of the main things that keep the 321st successful. Great words from troops outside of the brigade also help them stay focused and humble.

"They got millions and millions of dollars of equipment here and were all over it. They just executed. It was just their work ethic that shined through and showed true professionalism," said 1st Sgt. Edwin Williams, 324th Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Professionalism is key in anything that the military is involved in. Many units usually have missions that require more personnel, time and training than what is actually provided. Being professional will position a group of individuals into a team; which is capable of anything. That includes taking five Soldiers and utilizing them to supply more than 1,000 Soldiers with combat equipment.