MIDWEST CITY, Okla. – Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, took part in a field exercise at Glenwood Training Area where the logistics Soldiers trained on multiple Soldier skills, July 13-14, 2024.

Headquarters, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies of the 700th BSB used their drill weekend to set up a brigade support area where they trained on their field crafts, including perimeter security, operating a mobile kitchen trailer, and various warrior tasks.

The 700th BSB manages and supplies all the 45th IBCT’s maneuver battalions and their forward support companies with all of their commodities, including food, water, fuel, ammunition, parts, and maintenance to help them get to and accomplish each mission.

“Since 2023, we've been to the field twice with a focus on individual weapons qualification and crew-served weapons qualification,” said Maj. Brett Campbell, executive officer, 700th BSB. “The intent going forward is once every three months we will transition to the field and focus solely on field craft tasks such as security, how to set up the BSA’s traffic route and who controls it, and how to do some of those individual task as we build towards being able to support and resupply the forward support companies that support our maneuver elements.”

Campbell explained the mindset of the training, saying there's a lot of leadership that goes on with the main focus on having a positive attitude while every Soldier is learning.

Lt. Col. Francisco Vasquez, commander of the 700th BSB, said exercises like this excite Soldiers and leaders about their future training schedule and their roles in the organization. He added as Guardsmen gain experience and knowledge in their Soldier tasks, they also learn their roles in their teams as well as their role in the Guard.

“There's less than one percent of the population that volunteers to do this, and we need them all,” Vasquez said. “We need them to come in, and it's part of our responsibility to lead them and train them and get them prepared to do their mission, both at home and abroad.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Solis, the 700th BSB’s senior enlisted leader, echoed the importance of focusing on and learning Soldier skills and field craft.

“We sustain the fight while the fight is happening,” Solis said, adding that if the BSB Soldiers can't establish security in the perimeter, then they won't be able to do their job. “History shows us that the sustainment units are always [prime] target for attacks, because if they could cut out the logistics, then the front lines are also hurting as well. So it is very important for the junior enlisted and senior enlisted to be able to secure this BSA.

“I'm proud of the Soldiers,” Solis said. “This is new to a lot of them, especially these young Soldiers, and I couldn’t be more proud to be their CSM and see the enjoyment that they're having out here and hopefully in the future.”