by Michaela Falls

Marching steadily toward their deployment to Iraq in the fall, the troops of 237 Chemical Company of the Massachusetts National Guard—also known as “The Dragons”—made final preparations at Camp Curtis Guild in Reading June 5 and 6. The unit, which performs nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance and decontamination, will mobilize at Fort Drum in New York, their final stop before departing Iraq, June 19.

“Leadership is making sure the troops are mentally prepared, and have their uniforms and combat equipment ready. They’re making sure that everyone’s personal life is taken care of; checking how bills will be paid; how their family is being taken care of; and, making sure they have wills. They are also being trained in the soldiering skills that will be needed to complete the mission in Iraq,” said Sgt. James M. Carbone, a Somerville resident.

This is Sgt. Carbone’s third trip to Iraq. Before joining the National Guard in 1997, Carbone said, he traveled to Iraq twice with the Marines: first, in Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Promise, a mission devoted to providing relief and setting up refugee camps for the Kurdish refugees from northern Iraq, and the second time to liberate Kuwait. This will be Carbone’s first time with the National Guard, and he believes that his presence will have the most impact in this mission.

“History is definitely being made here. We are going to make the world a better place, especially in the Middle Eastern theater, for my kids and their kids. If we pull out now, we’ll show the whole world, as well as the terrorists, that we came, we did what we did, and then just left them. I’m a firm believer in staying the course, like the president says.”

Carbone is one of 22 soldiers going to chemical school to get Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training. The Nuclear Biological Chemicals (NBC) School trains the soldiers how to react to chemical reactions and attacks. The soldiers will also learn how to properly wear the necessary gear, a mask and Mission Operational Protective Posture (MOPP) suit, to protect themselves against chemical agents. Carbone, who was a communicator with the Marines, described the chemical unit as a new chapter in his career.

“It’s a training that can be used anywhere in the world. The threat right now in Iraq is not as big now as it once was; but it is always a possibility that chemical weapons can be used. We need to be trained to make ourselves and other soldiers safe,” he said.

For Sgt. Marisol Diaz, the drills and courses taught at Curtis Guild are a life-and-death issue. The 28-year-old from Everett has been in the military for four-and-a-half years, and took the weekend’s training seriously.

“Knowing your job is what is going to save your life. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can endanger yourself and everybody else. That’s why there’s a lot of training being done right now.”

Diaz said that she deals with the upcoming deployment by taking one day at a time. She is mostly concerned for her nine-year-old son.

“That’s the only part that worries me–that I’m not going to be around for him. As for my job, I’m ready. This is what I signed up to do, and all of us were aware that this could happen any time, anyways.”

Sgt. Angel Mesquitta, a resident from Nashau, N.H., and a 12-year veteran in the military, also said that leaving her children was the hardest part of the deployment. A claims handler for an insurance company, Mesquitta is leaving her three- and ten-year-old sons with her sister.

I’m bringing my laptop and Web cam,” said the 3rd platoon squat leader.

As a leader of the unit, Captain Jeffrey P. Winn’s biggest concern is that he has successfully prepared his troops.

“It’s kind of an awesome responsibility. My job at peace time is to make sure the soldiers are trained on their equipment and individual soldier tasks as well as they can be. When we go overseas, my job is to make sure that the soldiers are using their training, which I hope we’ve given them enough of, to be successful overseas to prevent anything bad from happening. And [to] keep them safe, but also keep them effective, to continue to do the mission we’ve been sent out there to do.”

Upon arrival at Fort Drum, Winn said, the unit will review basic soldiering skills and also learn about the Arabic culture, easing the transition to the Middle East.

“There will be theater specific tasks, like basic lessons in language and currency, and what’s appropriate in the Arabic world and what’s offensive—sort of a sensitivity training.

“A couple of days will be spent doing some administrative tasks like verifying paperwork, updating our records, getting shots, going through dental records. We’ll spend a lot of time doing individual soldiering skills like weapons qualification, first aid, calling for artillery fire, firing rounds through our weapons and the various weapon systems that we have, and practicing convoy techniques. We’ll have a lot of time devoted to it so we can make sure we know how to do it in our sleep,” said Winn.

As the time to deploy gets closer, the camaraderie of the unit appears to be only getting stronger. Sgt. Carbone attributes the high morale to the unit’s professionalism and excellence.

“The morale is 120 percent. This unit is second to none. There’s not even a question—everyone is coming in and doing their job. And if you don’t know your job, you’re getting taught by someone that knows the job, to get you up to snuff. Morale is higher than ever. We’re very excited to be part of 272.

“I think the general consensus among the troops is there’s some apprehension, which is to be expected. Frankly, if there wasn’t apprehension, I think I’d be a little worried. Some of the fears are basic, like, Are we going to be living in tents, barracks, or in a foxhole versus Are they going to be shooting at me, and stuff like that. It’s the fear of the unknown,” Winn said.

The platoon leaders addressed this fear of the unknown at Curtis Guild with relaxed Q&A sessions that included gentle ribbing and encouragement to ask simple questions. In these briefings, soldiers stepped back from the more serious issues and focused on the personal lives that would soon be left behind. Practical matters such as absentee ballots, the Army’s AKO Web site, Internet and phone access, how and what to pack, and mailing issues were discussed.

Captain Winn said the leaders of the unit are available for troops who need to vent.

“We’ve got a couple of individuals who are pretty much shaken up with young families or significant events going on in their lives, and we’re working on them one by one. Sometimes a soldier just needs to be told, ‘Hey listen, that’s a serious issue. I understand your wife is pregnant, or your daughter is graduating from college, but the bottom line is, you have a job to do.’ And they just need to hear it,” said Winn.

“I think there’s a lot of teamwork going on and everyone is basically taking care of each other,” said Diaz.
“We’re trying to set up a team as far as the females in the company. Many of them know they have the support. If they have any issues they can come up and talk with any of us about any of these issues.

“The unit is good about that—everyone looks out for one
another, and gives each other support. Everyone is going through hard times, just in the fact that we’re leaving home and leaving loved ones behind. But, as far as everyone taking a positive outlook on the situation, everybody is doing okay on that right now. That’s what I see,” she said.

Winn said he considered his troops some of the best in the Massachusetts National Guard.
“They’re motivated and well-trained, and I’ve got some great leaders. I’ve got some of the best equipment the Army can give me, and the training to go with it. These troops have the attitude and tenacity that they’re willing to go and do their job—and do it well.”