When soldiers from the NevadaArmy National Guard's 593rd Transportation Company set foot on Afghanistan soilin July, it marked a historical occasion for the Silver State's military.
Since the Bush Administration launched its Global War onTerror in late 2001 after terrorists slammed passenger jets into the WorldTrade towers and the Pentagon, hundreds of Nevada servicemen and women haveanswered the call to deploy either to Iraq or Afghanistan or both.
The 593rd TC's arrival in Afghanistan was symbolic as theunit became the first in Nevada to serve deployments to both countries.
The 593rd Transportation Company, with headquarters in Renoand detachments in Las Vegas, Elko and Winnemucca, accepted a mission todeliver personnel, supplies and equipment in and around Kabul, one of theworld's most dangerous cities.
Providing attention to detail on this mission ischaracteristic of the soldiers who serve in the company. The intensity of anythreat in the capital region makes the Nevada guardsmen more determined tocarry out successful trips from their base at Camp Phoenix.
The same resolve can be said about the company's commander,Capt. Curtis Kolvet of Reno, a 1997 Bishop Manogue High School graduate wholater served in the U.S. Army and deployed to Iraq.
Kolvet, an athletic, seasoned Army officer, has handled bothoverseas combat and homeland missions. He lived in Minden until age 12 when hisfamily relocated to Reno. Now married and the father of two children, Kolvetreceived his bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, wascommissioned a second lieutenant and went overseas to Germany and then to Iraq.
Fast forward the clock and Kolvet finds himself at CampPhoenix, a small post on the outskirts of Kabul, and seven miles away from theinternational airport. Location makes no difference to either Kolvet or hissoldiers because driving the streets of Kabul remains dangerous as long assuicidal insurgents continue to try blowing up vehicles or kidnappingwesterners. The city is home to millions of people, many who have relocatedthere from eastern Afghanistan villages and small towns and cities.
Despite having the Pentagon reduce the number of soldiers formost units coming to Afghanistan, Kolvet said the 593rd TC brought about 125soldiers, down an eighth from the original number.
"Realistically, we have the same missions but withfewer people," Kolvet told the Lahontan Valley News (http://bit.ly/Z0Fmlu)from his second-floor office located near the edge of Camp Phoenix's walled,barbed fence line with the city.
The 593rd TC represents every corner of Nevada. In additionto having detachments throughout the state, soldiers come from as far south asBoulder City in Clark County to as far east as McGill, a small mining townnorth of Ely in White Pine County. Kolvet said company platoons mesh togethersoldiers from the entire state, adding, "We're all one company and all oneteam."
The 593rd TC's mission is primarily to provide convoymovement throughout Regional Command-Capital (RC-C), transporting personneland/or equipment and supplies to other bases within the region. Some missionscan take as little as one hour, while others may require an entire day or night,depending on the time and scope of the mission.
"The bulk of our mission operations are in anenvironment of 5 million people," Kolvet pointed out. "We have hadover 100 missions in four months. We're busy."
Compared with other units, the 593rd TC interacts more withthe Afghan National Army because of its mission, but Kolvet said his soldiersmust be prepared for any situation, even murderous "green-on-blue"attacks by Afghanistan soldiers or policemen on coalition forces.
The vigilance continues for each mission, beginning with theinitial operating order, planning, execution and then review. Jumping into anarmored truck after checking the oil and water and kicking the tires doesn'talways lead to a successful mission.
"The battalion element here hands us ourmissions," Kolvet explained. "We work with them on the mission'sroutes and logistics. Our convoy commanders examine the missions by mappingthem out and by keeping people safe. I put that in their laps and they make ithappen."
Once the company receives a mission, the convoy commanderassembles the soldiers involved with the mission either the previous day or inthe morning of a trip into Kabul or to a base in the region. Furtherpreparations with crew and any passengers manifested for movement occur hoursbefore the vehicles, each with an experienced gunner, leave the Camp Phoenixcompound.
"For the number of solders and missions, we have hadfew issues," Kolvet said. "We must be aware and don't let our guarddown."
Kolvet is proud of the professionalism of the 593rdsoldiers. He saw active-duty soldiers conduct the same duties in Iraq and isquick to make a comparison.
"They are as good as any company I saw in the activeArmy," Kolvet. "They (Nevada guardsmen) came from real jobs, neededto have skills and have the ability to manage. Some of our soldiers have beenon two, three, even four deployments. Transportation? Logistics? The Guard cando just as well .."
The unit makeup represents a typical ground unit. ManyMarines who pounded the ground returned to military duty to become guardsmen;furthermore, Kolvet said all 15 women in the 593rd TC have ridden in convoys,including seven women who regularly ride on missions ad hold significantpositions of responsibility.
Kolvet said many units in and around the Kabul area includeNational Guard companies and battalions in addition to numerous coalitionforces deployed to the capital. When the 593rd doesn't have a mission orsoldiers have time off from going "out of the wire," a phrase meaningoutside the gates, Kolvet said they are training on the vehicles and updatingtheir licenses.
A DIVERSE TEAM
2nd Lt. Yelena Yatskikh grew up in a Russian city of almost1 million people south of Moscow and came to the United States to finish herundergraduate degree in New Hampshire and then graduate from UNLV with amaster's degree in international relations and political science. While ingraduate school, the 30-year-old Yatskikh enlisted in the Nevada Army NationalGuard and eventually completed Officer Candidate School.
Before receiving her commission, Yatskikh also took the oathto become a naturalized United States citizen.
In addition to being a platoon leader, Yatskikh serves as aconvoy commander twice a week, ensuring her crews get the needed safety and threatassessment trainings and that the vehicles are ready to rumble over Kabul'sstreets.
Although she admits to having some butterflies beforeheading out on a convoy, she overcomes those anxieties knowing her soldiers andtheir expertise make the convoy run smoother.
"I am used to going out now, but I do not want tobecome complacent," she said. "I need to stay focused."
Jones' platoon sergeant is Sgt. 1st Class Heather Harris ofTruckee. Barely into her 30s, Harris deployed three times to Iraq, but this isher first assignment to Afghanistan.
Harris joined the military more than 10 years ago, two daysafter 9/11. Since that time she has periodically worked full time for theNevada Army National Guard, and prior to the Afghanistan deployment, she workedwith training.
As the platoon sergeant, she ensures soldiers meet theirtraining objectives, and she sets forth additional training for the road asboth an assistant convoy commander and truck commander.
"A leadership role is a lot different in a combat zone,"she pointed out. "There is more responsibility. I go out on convoys. Iwant to go where the fight is."
As platoon leader, Harris said she wants to see if thesoldiers are focused on their convoy missions; and to see how they deal withsituations that may crop up along the route.
Harris figures her missions in Iraq have provided anextensive wealth of knowledge in dealing with soldiers who have deployed forthe first time.
Harris said she is always a little nervous when going out ona convoy.
"If you do not fear, then you may lead soldiers intomore risk," she said.
Likewise Sgt. 1st Class John Dube also ensures the soldiersreceive their training in the second platoon.
Dube, who grew up in Carson City and moved to Douglas County20 years ago, is serving his second deployment. The first overseas trip to Iraqalso with the 593rd.
"I was on the road there, but here, I'm on the road alittle bit, but I mostly do admin (administration work)," he said.
A full-time maintenance worker for the Nevada Army NationalGuard in Carson City, Dube said Iraq's infrastructure was much better,especially with better built highways.
"These are two totally different places," he said.
Dube has also seen the Nevada Guard in action in Europe.Dube, a veteran of 21 years, served in the 150th Maintenance Company in CarsonCity as a track and light-wheel mechanic. The unit performed three annualtrainings in Germany and two more in Italy.