13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Story by Lisa A. Cope

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION ADDER, Iraq – The Personal Security Detachment with the 36th Sustainment Brigade out of Temple, Texas, keeps Soldiers safe while conducting operations outside the wire.

1st Lt. Jose A. Alvarez, the officer in charge of the 36th Sust. Bde. PSD and a San Antonio, Texas, native, said the PSD handles a variety of missions.

"The main mission of the PSD is to provide transportation and security to our brigade sergeant major and our brigade commander on battlefield circulations, on (civil-military operations) missions – any missions that they see fit," said Alvarez.

Spc. Christian B. Luckett, a gunner with the PSD and a Dallas native, said preparation is a vital part of any mission. The equipment, including vehicles and weapons, has to be cleaned, inspected and serviced before each mission, he said.

Alvarez said the unit had some problems on its first mission, including two vehicle break downs and lost communications, but they worked as a team to overcome the obstacles and get back safely.

"With all the stuff that has happened to us on the road ... we relied on each other; that has made us stronger," he said. "Personalities collided at the beginning but, at the end, we knew we had to work together to accomplish our mission and to come back home safely."

Sgt. Rodolfo M. Almendarez Jr., B Team leader with the PSD and a San Antonio native, said teamwork is an important part of how the PSD operates and the unit has been training to improve its cohesion since mobilization.

He said he believes the training has been effective so far.

"I think it is going well, overall ... we are starting to become a better team," he said.

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