By DEWEY TERRILL
JC Post
JUNCTION CITY — Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division recently trained at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, as they prepare for upcoming deployment to Europe.
Col. Brian Harris, Brigade Commander, said the team trained in a 30-mile-by-30-mile tract from east to west and north to south.
"You can really stretch the brigade across distances across the Mojave Desert," he said. "It was August and temperatures would get up to about 112 degrees so it definitely stressed the people and their equipment to their limits."
Harris noted that the Soldiers got better and returned ready for their deployment to Europe.
Harris said over the coming weeks they will continue to get their equipment and vehicles ready. They will be transported by rail to a port where they will be shipped to Europe.
"While that's going on we'll continue to get the Soldiers equipment ready," Harris said. "They'll be packing their stuff out, getting their rucksacks and trunks filled with all the stuff that we need over in Europe."
Families will also be prepared for the time while their loved ones are away.
There are multiple programs to help families and Soldiers during the deployment. One of those will be an Information and Resource Fair on Oct. 13 for both so that they have an understanding of everything available at Fort Riley and across Junction City and the Flint Hills.
"We're going to make sure that they have access to opportunities such as Army Community Service, we'll have chaplains back here, the MWR facilities, the Victory Wellness program that the Division has in place among many other opportunities will all be available for the families," Harris said.