By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

Benicia’s California National Guard members are back home, after several weeks of training at Camp Roberts in Central California in preparation for deployment to Iraq some time during the upcoming Christmas-New Year holidays.

For some of the members of the 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, this intense preparation is for their first deployment. Others already have overseas experience, many in the Middle East, and knew what to expect. For all members of the battalion, it was a time to work together and face the heat.

Last week, they experienced 110-degree temperatures while dressed in full battle gear.

“It was a dry heat,” Pfc. Anthony Carter said with a wry smile. “Not like here.”

Although Benicia’s thermometer passed 106 degrees itself during last week’s hot spell, news that surprised the newly returned battalion who thought folks back home were enjoying milder weather. But most Benicians weren’t donning heavy battle gear for outdoor exercises.

“It prepared us for the heat out there,” Carter said. “You get used to it.”

Carter, an information specialist, will be seeing overseas duty for the first time when the unit deploys for a full year. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m prepared,” he said. He’s been in the California National Guard for three years, all spent in Benicia.

Sgt. Cyrus Peralta, who specializes in transportation, has been in the Guard more than 14 years, and has been assigned “all around California,” and has been deployed before. He said the three weeks at Camp Roberts was hot, and the soldiers often were carrying 30 pounds of gear as they practiced. “It’s hot, but you drink lots of water,’ he said.

“You can eat whatever you want and still drop a few pounds!” he added with a laugh.

But training wasn’t for laughs. “It’s the things you do in basic,” he said. “But it’s fine tuning, honing your skills, doing the stuff every soldier has to do. It’s all pretty relevant — especially the heat!”

Soldiers took advantage of the high temperatures after getting acclimated to the weight of all their gear. Certain areas of Iraq can experience temperatures exceeding 120 degrees in July and August, much like portions of the American Southwest. During the deployment, they’ll also experience the country’s bitter cold, when lows can plummet to below
freezing in January.

Since the 78 members of the battalion slated for deployment rarely work at the Benicia armory at the same time, the trip to Central California gave the soldiers an important added experience.

“It was good team building,” Peralta said. Few tasks they’ll be assigned in Iraq can be accomplished by lone individuals. “If you’re not working as a team, it’s impossible.”
Spc. Ennix Blackmon is another who will be returning to Iraq with this deployment.

When he was assigned there as part of the Army Reserves for 15 months in 2006-07, he went to Mosul when it was one of the most hazardous places to be. Since then, he’s kept up with changes in Iraq, which he anticipates should be safer than his last deployment, although the soldiers must be ready for any action.

In fact, compared to his preparation for Mosul, “I think training with the National Guard is more intense,” he said. “I have sore body parts!”

That intensity “is very much necessary. It helps you prepare for deployment and it builds confidence,” particularly those who will be going overseas for the first time.

“It hit 111 one day. We were so fortunate!” he said, recalling the temperatures he experienced in Mosul, and knowing what his fellow soldiers will be facing. Regardless, the heat was combined with physically demanding training. “People were saying, ‘Oh, my goodness, it’s so hot.’” he said. “A lot of people lost weight.”

Like Peralta and Carter, Blackmon recognized the importance of bonding as a unit before the battalion is sent overseas. “This is the first time a lot of us have trained together,” he said. “It was a good chance to see how we work together, and we coped together very well. We stuck close. This is going to be a good team — a strong team. Tight. And that’s a good thing. There are no knots in the rope.”

The battalion will have another round of training at Camp Roberts before they leave. “We’ll only get better.” Blackmon said.

This is the first time the Benicia unit has been called to duty for war since its activation in 1947. But it leaves for what its leader calls “a very mature theater,” with most of the essentials available for soldiers.

The battalion is led by Lt. Col. David Ceniti, and is the logistical headquarters, supervising subordinate units in five Northern California cities.

In preparation for deployment, his soldiers are training in a variety of tasks, from fleet maintenance, long and short transports and meeting medical needs to administration and human resources services, because the situation in Iraq remains fluid. However, because the Iraqi theater is shrinking, Ceniti has anticipated his battalion will be involved in moving forces and equipment.

A small staff will remain at the Benicia armory while the rest are deployed.

Camp Roberts itself was a little rougher than the headquarters where the battalion will be stationed in Iraq, veterans of other deployments said. “It’s way better overseas.” Peralta said.