RED HORSE aids EUCOM, Marines in Georgia

  • Published
  • By Capt. Timothy Morris
  • 819th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron
VAZIANI SOUTH TRAINING AREA, Georgia --  The 819th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron completed commissioning of the repaired electrical system at the Vaziani South Training Area, Georgia, Feb. 26, 2013. 

The RED HORSE Squadron was tasked to deploy 200 personnel in support of European Command from Nov. 1, 2012 to May 1, 2013. As part of the deployment, the squadron was tasked to complete camp improvements for Marine Forces Europe.

"I've been very impressed with RED HORSE planning and design capability. They have supported the ERC programs in Israel, Georgia, Macedonia, Latvia, and other European countries," said Maj. Carlos Gorbea, EUCOM J4 Plans & Operations. "Being able to tap into RED HORSE for emergency operations in Georgia, we were able to utilize their fast acting contracting capability to fix a dangerous situation for US forces."

The Marines at VSTA train Georgian military personnel before the Georgians deploy to Afghanistan. The camp had a substandard electrical system that resulted in several fires and presented an electrocution risk to both the Marines and Georgians. RED HORSE deployed a total of 11 personnel from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. and purchased a total of $107 thousand in materials to complete the electrical repairs.

The mission to Georgia also included forward deploying an electrician and plumber to Norway to package War Reserve Materiel assets and travel with the assets on a C-17 Heavy Airlift Wing mission organized at the EUCOM level.

"This is a great opportunity for RED HORSE to showcase their abilities in the EUCOM Theater and is a historic return to Europe for the 819th which was stationed at RAF Wethersfield from 1979 until 1990," said Col. Mark Zimmerhanzel, 819 RHS commander.

RED HORSE is a highly mobile, heavy construction squadron which specialties in both vertical and horizontal construction.