Deactivation of Company F, 425 Infantry (LRS) (Abn) support request
This is something I received in an email...
Greetings Fellow Troopers,
Co F, 425 Infanty (LRS) (Abn) as of 17 February is due to be deactivated. We would like to see Michigan's only Airborne unit remain intact with it's long history and combat proven effectiveness. We would like you to write your representatives in the state and federal governments, to let them know we care about keeping alive the spirit, the history, and the potential of Company F.
This is a copy of a letter written by a concerned member of F/425 IN (LRS)(ABN) and is being used as a template for letter writing by several of the rest of our membership
To whom it may concern, 17 Feb 2007
The Army remains at war. This is one of the most dangerous times in our history. To fulfill the role that will be demanded in the 21st Century, we are becoming a strategically agile, expeditionary force reliant on modular brigades. These modular brigades are designed to deal with the full spectrum of challenges our Nation will face. Driving the growth is Army Transformation from division-centric operations to a lighter, more mobile force built around brigade combat teams. The LRS teams in the (BFSB) Battle Field Surveillance Brigades are seen as vital in the fight against terrorists, guerrillas and other unconventional enemy forces. "Reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition is a highly important task in any type of military operation, but that is particularly true when you're conducting a counterintelligence campaign such as in Iraq or Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. During a BFSB briefing on 11 august 2006 General Cody stated he believed "we should have about twenty BFSB's in the total force. The TAA 08-13 Simultaneity Stack requirement was for six in the total force. Only five were sourced leaving 1 un-sourced. It was the intent to source the sixth BFSB in the Army National Guard.
The NCO's ans soldiers of Company F are some of the best-trained and most dedicated people in the army National Guard. Over the past four years these dedicated Nco's, Officers, and soldiers of Company F have worked extremely hard to get to the level of expertise we currently hold. September 11th 2001 was a very critical time in the life of all Americans that no one was expecting. President John F. Kennedy said it best. " In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger... The energy, the faith, the devotion we bring to this endeavor will light our country...and the glow from that fire can truly light the world". Company F has done just that with mission after mission in Iraq to support the War on Terror. We accomplished Surveilllance missions on the Turkish, Syrian and Iranian Borders, Counter IED/Rocket/Mortar missions throughout Baghdad, Convoy Security missions through the Sunni Triangle, Tower Guard at Abu Ghraib Prison, Trained and equiped 4 Iraqi National Guard Battalions, Conducted offensive operations with the Iraqi National Guard, Trained and equiped the Iraqi Border Police that cover the Turkish and Iranian borders, and many other tasks that are not on any METL (mission essential task list) without incident or combat loss of an soldier. This is the most important task that any leader or soldier should be concerned about. I for one am very proud to be part of Company F, 425th IN (ABN) (LRS) and I am extremely proud of those NCO's and Soldiers who continue day in and day out to perform 110% to prepare for future operations in support of the global war on terror.
On 17 February 2007 the Senior Leadership in the Michigan Army National Guard has decided that Company F will close its doors and it will not pursue a BFSB in Michigan as part of the force restructure or find a place in the ARNG for this company to operate under a BFSB. This in my opinion would be a big mistake considering the Army is going to triple its Long Range Surveillance capabilities over the next year to meet the future needs of the Army under the Battle Field Surveillance Brigade concept. In mid March 2007 the BFSB decision brief will take place at the Pentagon to decide the future of the LRS units in the Army and the Army National Guard. Company F, 425th Infantry (ABN) (LRS) is a combat tested, fully manned and qualified LRS Company that is prepared for future operations and any assistance in assuring that the the long history of the Company F, 425th Infantry is kept alive would be appreciated.
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Some, if not most of the NCO's and men are planing to stand on the steps of the capitol building in Lansing on friday February the 23rd 2007 at 1000 hrs and remain their for 24 hrs in an attempt to be heard, however at this time I do not have all the details or know the exact intent but will pass it along as soon as I do. In the interm any support you can give us either write or e-mail your congressman and senators an ask them to help F/425 IN or stand with us in Lansing even if only for an hour or two. So please notify the membership of our great associations all support is welcome and appreciated.
We realize this is short notice be we only found this out on the 17th and we were told off line that there was a very small window for us to make a difference, the Company can not sanction anything officially, but what we do on our own time as civilians is not under there jurisdiction and they cant be held accountable for our letters and correspondence and the steps we fell we must take to ensure the survival of our organization, and you know we cant just lay down and take it without a fight. We just ask that you be respectful when contacting your representatives. when more becomes known I will pass the information on.
SSG Keith E. Meade
Team Leader, Tm 2-2
Co F 425 IN (ABN) (LRS)
"Rangers Lead the Way"
_______________________
Points of Contact:
The Honorable Congresswoman Candice Miller
228 Cannon H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Senator Carl Levin
Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Honorable Joe Knollenberg
312 Town Ctr,
Troy, MI
248-619-0531
Honorable Sander M. Levin
27085 Gratiot Ave
Roseville, MI
586-498-7122
Honorable Thaddeus McCotter
17197 N Laurel Park Dr
Livonia, MI
734-632-0314
Honorable Mike Rogers
1327 E. Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI
517-702-8000
Your state representatives may vary, and I urge everyone to write their representatives to keep alive the 425!
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