Guardmembers settle into Iraq deployment, mark history

By Sgt. Christina Thompson and Staff Sgt. April Davis
United States Division – Center

National Guardmembers with the 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Garrison Command, United States Division – Center, stand in formation Dec. 19, 2010, during a ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq. During the ceremony, the 116th BSTB Soldiers were presented shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service, or ‘combat patches’, to recognize service of more than 30 days in a combat zone. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina Thompson)
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CAMP TAJI, Iraq (1/19/11) – Idaho, Montana and Oregon National Guard Soldiers have been busy since taking command of Camp Taji, Iraq.

The Guardmembers are with the headquarters element of the 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, based out of Twin Falls, Idaho, and they are currently serving under 116th Garrison Command, United States Division – Center in support of Operation New Dawn.

The 116th BSTB is part of the 116th Cavalry Brigade headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

The 116th Cavalry Brigade is comprised of approximately 1,500 Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard, 600 Soldiers from the Montana Army National Guard and 600 Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard.

The unit is responsible for life support, facility maintenance, land management, force protection and base defense for the camp, located north of Baghdad.

“Our mission is difficult, but very rewarding,” said Army Lt. Col. Kevin Sheehy, commander of the 116th BSTB.

The unit operates much like a city mayoral office, responsible for maintaining infrastructure and support services to U.S. servicemembers and civilian contractors.

Army Maj. Cody McRoberts, executive officer with the 116th BSTB, said being Citizen-Soldiers in a National Guard unit uniquely enables the BSTB to provide oversight of the camp.

“The various civilian-acquired skills and backgrounds that our Soldiers posses help enhance our ability to successfully complete our mission here in Iraq,” he said.

Experience also enables the unit to meet the demands of their mission. Many members of the 116th BSTB previously deployed to Iraq with the 116th Cavalry Brigade, from 2004 to 2005.

“We were witness to the two most important days in Iraq’s recent history – the constitutional referendum and the first election in 2005,” Sheehy said. “What we will engage in for the next several months will be yet another important event for Iraq, the de-scoping of the U.S. military mission here.”

Some Soldiers with the 116th are on their first deployment.

The 116th BSTB presented these Soldiers with shoulder sleeve insignia for wartime service, also known as ‘combat patches,’ during a ceremony Dec. 19.

The 116th BSTB Soldiers now wear the 116th Cavalry Brigade patch on both sleeves of their uniforms, symbolizing their veteran status and service with the brigade in support of Operation New Dawn.

The 116th departed their home states in mid-September for pre-deployment training at Camp Shelby, Miss. and arrived in Iraq in mid-November.

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