Team helping deployed troops with homes hit by hurricane

ARNEWS ^ | Sep 8, 2005 | Maj. Jackie Guthrie

[SandRat]

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (Army News Service, Sept. 8, 2005) -- More than 800 Soldiers on duty in Iraq and Kuwait have been directly impacted by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina, and the Army has sent a newly created “Tiger Team” to Camp Victory, Iraq, to help them.

The Tiger Team, led by Brig. Gen. Sean Byrne, director of Military Personal Management for the U.S. Army, was established to identify Soldiers who have family and/or property in the affected regions.

More than 545 Soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq were identified as having property and families affected by the hurricane. Another brigade from the Mississippi National Guard is also in theater.

Tiger Team members, with assistance from the Coalition Forces Land Component Command, 377th Theater Support Command and 390th Personnel Command in Kuwait, brief Soldiers on available resources, collect detailed information from affected soldiers and send it to a team at Fort Polk, La.

Polk task force also helping

The Polk team, known as Task Force Care, works with housing relocation services, Army chaplains, Veterans Administration counselors, FEMA representatives, Red Cross volunteers, medical assistance teams and many other care organizations to help redeploying soldiers such as those in the 256th BCT as well as Soldiers coming home on temporary emergency leave.

“We’re here (in Kuwait) to identify Soldiers’ issues and problems,” Byrne said. “Our focus is on you and your family and what the Army can do for you,” he told Soldiers of the 256th BCT. “These Soldiers have done everything their country has asked them to do,” he said and now the Army is going to do whatever it can for them and their families including supplying housing, locating family members, treating medical conditions and providing employment options.

“We care about Soldiers,” said Byrne. “We’ll do everything we can to do what’s right for Soldiers and their family.”

Team also concerned about jobs

One of the right things is ensuring Soldiers have jobs to come home to, he said. The hurricane ruined more than just homes; it also destroyed businesses and eliminated jobs Soldiers planned to return to. Army officials are offering Soldiers employment options such as extending on active duty in state or federal status to help with relief efforts or joining the active Army, Byrne said. Of course, Soldiers also have the option of completing their active duty tour as scheduled and seeking alternate employment options.

The teams will also ensure Soldiers and families have access to the medical care through the Army’s Tricare medical system. Army lawyers will be on hand to provide assistance filing insurance claims, applying for government assistance funds and any other legal situations that arise. And counseling is also available from Army chaplains and other nonprofit organizations.

Unit also helping Soldiers

Tiger Team personnel are determining what resources each Soldier in the 256th BCT needs as they redeploy through Camp Victory en route to Louisiana; at the same time, commanders and personnel specialists are, as always, taking care of their Soldiers.

“We’ve initiated a program at Ali Al Salem to identify any Soldier going on emergency leave to affected areas,” Byrne said. This ensures departing Soldiers receive the same briefings and are able to report their problems to the assistance teams. All affected Soldiers, regardless of unit, will have help available when they get off the plane in the U.S.

Lieutenant: ‘Army one big family’

Knowing the Army is going to help is putting Soldiers’ minds at ease.

“This program is going to help me locate my family and get them to a safe environment,” said 1st Lt. Andre Geremillion, 256th BCT. When officials warned the hurricane was coming, Geremillion’s wife and son loaded up the car and drove to San Antonio, Texas to stay with family. He said no one knows the condition of the family home but fears it’s been looted. Geremillion plans to get his wife and son and live in Army housing at Fort Polk until he can rebuild not only his home, but also his life.

“The Army is one big family and I’m excited and also happy that they are showing that they care,” Geremillion added.

“The hurricane scattered everything I hope to go home to across the country,” said Staff Sgt. Tiger Chaplain, also with the 256th BCT. “All my stuff is under water … everybody’s homes are damaged. All I want to do is get home and see what damage has been done and get my family back together.” And he is encouraged the Army is going to help him accomplish his goals.

“I didn’t know what help I would get but I knew help would be given,” he said about the Army’s Tiger Team.

(Editor’s note: Maj. Jackie Guthrie serves with the 377th Theater Support Command Public Affairs.)

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