New Soldier gets first taste of the military on flood mission

Private Lauren Coffey drives a Humvee at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo in Sikeston , May 8. The rodeo has become a sandbag staging area during the flood relief efforts. Coffey is in the Missouri Army National Guard and a motor transport operator in the 1221st Transportation Company. She graduated Advanced Individualized Training, April 1, and has been activated on State of Emergency Duty since April 23. (Photo by Spc. Jasmine Walthall)

By Spc. Jasmine Walthall
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

SIKESTON, Mo. - For the average Guardsmen, their first experience of the Army National Guard after training is generally a drill weekend.

However, for Pvt. Lauren Coffey, her experience was far from the norm.

"I graduated from advanced individualized training April 1, and have been activated for state emergency duty since April 23," Coffey said.

Coffey is a motor transport operator in the 1221st Transportation Company out of Dexter, Sikeston and Portageville. The 1221st has been the primary unit tasked with hauling tens of thousands of sandbags throughout southeast Missouri. The company's work has been crucial to the mission's success.

While activated for flood duty, Coffey has hauled sandbags all over southeast Missouri, including Poplar Bluff, Kennet, Caruthersville, and Commerce.

"To me our job has been one of the most important because we have to get sandbags to everyone," Coffey said. "I learned here just how important we are to the mission and it feels good to know that we helped to save a lot of homes. Residents have told us that because of us they had minimal damage to their homes. It feels good to hear that."

While Coffey learned the importance of her job during state emergencies, she also learned important things about herself.

"I realized that I can do a lot when it comes to helping people," Coffey said. "I can do just as much as any male. I also learned that I can get a very small amount of sleep and still do a lot of work - 12 hours isn't that long when you are loading and unloading sandbags in the cold rain and 15 minute naps are totally worth it."

Coffey went on to note that the mission has prepared her for any possible deployments in the future.

"The idea of deploying is kind of scary, but I am confident that I am prepared," Coffey said. "This mission has prepared me a lot by getting me more comfortable with driving and getting in the right mindset because we get missions at all hours of the day."

Most importantly, the Sikeston native and resident has learned that the military is more than just "people walking around in uniforms."

"The military is a great organization to get into," Coffey said. "They really take care of you, and you learn and experience so much that you would never be able to do in the civilian world. The military teaches you to suck it up and move on, and that is an important lesson to learn early in life."

Coffey currently attends Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau with aspirations of becoming a physical therapist. However, that was not her first ambition.

"I have always wanted to be in the military," Coffey said. "I think it is important for everyone to do their part for their country, and I wanted to serve my state."

Although Coffey's family and friends expected that she would join the military, they were surprised when she chose her military occupational specialty.

"I chose my MOS because I always wanted to drive big trucks and no one thought I could," Coffey said. "I am always trying to find ways to better myself and prove myself."

Being one of four females activated in the 1221st, proving yourself can be a common task, but one Coffey excels at.

Because of Coffey's size and age, fellow female soldier Sgt. Leslie Brockman said she wasn't sure that Coffey was cut out for the rigorous tasks that come with being a member of the 1221st. Those doubts didn't last long.

"She is a hard worker, gets in there and gets the job done and works hard for long periods of time without complaint," Brockman said. "I would love to have her on my team any day."

Units supporting the flood response include: 70th Troop Command, Jefferson Barracks; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood; 175th Military Police Battalion, of Columbia; the 1140th Engineer Battalion, Cape Girardeau; the 1221st Transportation Company, of Dexter, Portageville and Sikeston; 1140th Forward Support Company, Cape Girardeau; the 1138th Military Police Company, of West Plains and Springfield; the 1138th Engineer Company (Sapper), of Farmington and Fredericktown; the 1175th Military Police Company, of St. Clair and St. Louis; the 3175th Military Police Company, Warrenton; the 1139th Military Police Company, Harrisonville; the 880th Engineer Haul Team, Perryville; the 220th Engineer Company, Festus; the 1438th Engineer Company, of Macon and Kirksville; 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of Jefferson City; 7th Civil Support Team, Jefferson City; Missouri Wing Civil Air Patrol and the Joint Operations Center at Joint Force Headquarters in Jefferson City.

Missouri's Soldiers and Airmen will continue working in support of local authorities until released by the governor.

For continuing updates on the response, visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.blog.moguard.com

Private Lauren Coffey conducts Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services on a Humvee prior to driving, May 8. Coffey is in the Missouri Army National Guard and a motor transport operator in the 1221st Transportation Company. She graduated Advanced Individualized Training, April 1, and has been activated on State of Emergency Duty since April 23. (Photo by Spc. Jasmine Walthall)