515th "High Rollers" ensure fuel tanks at Camp Taji never run dry

Photo By Sgt. Aaron Leblanc | Spc. Brandon Taffar, a Cleveland, Ga. is pictured here providing the generators that light up the power grid of Camp Taji with a steady supply of fuel. Taffar is currently serving a 15 month tour of duty in Iraq with the 515th Transportation Company, 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade.  

TAJI, IRAQ

06.30.2008

Story by Sgt. Aaron Leblanc 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By Sgt. Aaron LeBlanc
165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, UPAR, 1st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP TAJI, Iraq —15.6 million gallons and counting: The 515th Transportation Company, also known as the "High Rollers," are living up to their namesake at Camp Taji, Iraq.

For nearly a year, the 515th has been solely responsible for the delivery of fuel to the generators that light up the power grid of the entire installation.

Based out of Manheim, Germany, the active duty unit is currently serving a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq, where they are assigned to the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade.

Although the 515th's largest assignment is fuel delivery on Taji, the High Rollers have also proven to be jacks of all trades, performing a share of almost every assignment handed down to the 165th, the most robust logistics battalion in Iraq.

"With the exception of moving concrete barriers, we've picked up a piece of every mission organic to the battalion." said Capt. Jason Miles, commanding officer of the 515th, and Dayton, Ohio native. "In addition to moving fuel all over Multi-National Corps - Iraq, we also have a gun truck platoon that provides security for convoys outside the wire, and we're capable of moving any class of supply."

The 515th is scheduled to redeploy to Germany this October, completing their third tour in Iraq since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2008
• Date Posted: 07.01.2008 04:35
• Story ID: 21039
• Location: TAJI, IQ