1st Sustainment Brigade

Story by 1st Lt. Steve White

1st Lt. Steve White
1st Sustainment Brigade.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Battery B, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, is preparing to receive Company F, 949th Brigade Support Battalion, the Texas Army National Guard unit set to take over their mission.

Following a training period of several days, Co. F, 949th BSB, will be set to assume responsibility of convoy security operations as part of the 165th CSSB, which is currently controlled by Btry. B, 1st Bn., 206th FA.

A few of the top priorities for the outgoing unit were to prepare billets and put together a training schedule for the new unit.

National Guard units typically serve about nine months at a time in Iraq in a deployed status. To make the frequent transitions possible, the units devise plans and procedures to effectively and efficiently receive the incoming units. This process is commonly referred to as "right-seat, left-seat ride."

During this time, an outgoing unit transfers the valuable lessons learned from their time in theater to their counterparts who are set to inherit their mission.

When Btry. B, 1st Bn., 206th FA, arrived at Camp Taji last spring, they underwent the same process; and just like the units in rotations prior to them, Btry. B, 1st Bn., 206th FA, will take the lessons learned from their predecessors, and improve upon them based on their own, more recent experience. It is in this way troops continue to adapt and improve tactics and standard operating procedures.

"One aspect of our transition period that could have been improved is having more time to better understand the vehicles we would be utilizing," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pierpaoli, a native of Fayetteville, Ark., and platoon sergeant with Btry. B, 1st Bn., 206th FA. Tips like these are part of what influences the training plan for an incoming unit.

Capt. Joshua Webb of Greenbrier, Ark., the commander of Btry. B, 1st Bn., 206th FA, said that it is his goal for Co. F, 949th BSB, to have a good understanding of what his unit does, and to "make the transition process as smooth as possible."

Measures are already being taken to improve the efficiency of this transition process. Sgt. 1st Class James Collier of Fort Smith, Ark., was chosen to lead a team, which was sent to Kuwait to meet the incoming unit, and get a jump on their training.

"It's our job to make sure these incoming Soldiers get the training they need to accomplish the tasks that we have done over the last few months," said 1st Sgt. Kenneth Dempsey of Gillett, Ark.

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