U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Kenion, commander 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for the Battalion, congratulates Soldiers part of the battalion command staff during an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, addresses Soldiers form the unit commending them on their hard work and effort during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, addresses Soldiers form the unit commending them on their hard work and effort during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, addresses Soldiers form the unit commending them on their hard work and effort during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, addresses Soldiers form the unit commending them on their hard work and effort during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, assemble for an awards and recognition ceremony to highlight their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, assemble for an awards and recognition ceremony to highlight their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers part of the command staff for the 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, share in a candid moment after an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers part of the command staff for the 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, share in a candid moment after an awards ceremony for recognition of their hard work and dedication during the mobilization process and achieving mission readiness December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, salutes 1st Sgt. Michael Figueroa, Headquarters & Headquarters Company first sergeant, during a formation to commend Soldiers from the Battalion for achieving mission readiness during the mobilization process December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates)
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez, senior enlisted advisor for 3-312th Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland, salutes 1st Sgt. Michael Figueroa, Headquarters & Headquarters Company first sergeant, during a formation to commend Soldiers from the Battalion for achieving mission readiness during the mobilization process December 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit is on a yearlong assignment to Fort Hood in support of operations for First Army Division West, 120th Infantry Brigade. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL

An Army Reserve Training Support Battalion from Fort Meade, Maryland is the next unit in line to begin supporting training and mobilization operations for First Army Division West.

Taking over operations from the 3-289th TSBN out of Beaumont Texas, the 3-312th TSBN officially assumed training and mobilization operations support for First Army December 18.

“There were a lot of logistical requirements needed to achieve the overall unit readiness for mobilization,” said 1st Sgt. Michael Figueroa, the Headquarters & Headquarters company first sergeant for the 3-312th.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Figueroa noted that a lot of preparation was done virtually, which meant extra time had to be built in the preparation plan to meet requirements.

“Getting prepared for any long term movement is always a challenge, especially as a reserve Soldier. Coordination of civilian careers and family can be difficult to say the least. Additionally, as a unit, we have to meet several requirements, that under regular circumstances, are challenging, but during COVID-19, there was a little more to consider,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lopez.

“Some of the challenging aspects to be navigated in preparing for the mobilization included the complex synchronization between a 48 percent influx of newly assigned Soldiers and managing COVID restriction guidelines from our command and state leaders” said Maj. James Palomo,

the 3-312th executive officer.

Given those parameters, creative planning for dynamic and useful training had to be done for three annual training events in 120 days – taking into account Soldiers located in 11 states, who would need to attend, Palomo further explained.

“Considering those circumstances, we pushed through and arrived with a great team ready to take on the mission,” added Lopez.

Lopez credits the personnel from the 3-289th for being on point and providing the incoming team with everything needed to be successful and hit the ground running.