III Corps headquarters is loading up for its deployment to Iraq.
The soldiers won't leave until January, but their equipment will be shipped out this week.

Less than two weeks ago, III Corps commanding general Thomas Metz addressed the post to announce the headquarters deployment to Iraq. By the end of this week, most of III Corps equipment will be rolling out of Fort Hood, headed for the Texas coast.

Hundreds of III Corps soldiers were busy loading up their equipment Tuesday at the post's recently upgraded railhead facility. The railhead has tripled in size since 2002, expanding from 4 rails to 12. It has also tripled it's capacity to move out equipment.

The new railhead got it's first big test last spring when more than 11,000 pieces of equipment were sent overseas when the 4th Infantry Division deployed. The deployment worked so efficiently, Fort Hood was awarded the best deployment site in the army.

This deployment, things should be a little easier. III Corps is comprised of only 400 personel and approximately 500 pieces of equipment are being transported this week, mainly hum-vees and light trucks. Eventhough the expanded railhead makes deployments more efficient, supervisors say none of it can be done without the hard work of the soldiers.

The railhead will get it's biggest test next year as the 1st Cavalry Division deploys for Iraq late February, followed by the long-awaited return of the 4th Infantry Division in April.

III Corps personell are scheduled to deploy for Iraq sometime in January.