Transportation Soldiers double up on safety

Photo By Sgt. Keith Anderson | Col. Martin B. Pitts, commander, 16th Sustainment Brigade, presents Capt. Paul Moran, 574th Quartermaster Co., 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sust. Bde., with a certificate of appreciation for going 90 days without an accident, during a ceremony at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation base complex at Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, June 30. Pitts also awarded a green safety streamer to the Soldiers. The 574th Quartermaster Co., based out of Grafenwoehr, Germany, is on a 15-month deployment and assumed authority in Iraq, July 26, 2008.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

06.30.2009

Story by Sgt. Keith Anderson 

16th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — Col. Martin B. Pitts, commander, 16th Sustainment Brigade, tied on green safety streamers to the guidons of two companies from the 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sust. Bde., during a ceremony at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation base complex, June 30.

Pitts awarded a green safety streamer to the Soldiers of the 574th Quartermaster Co. for going 90 days without an accident. The Soldiers of the 574th Quartermaster Co., based out of Grafenwoehr, Germany, are on a 15-month deployment and assumed authority in Iraq, July 26, 2008.

The brigade commander also awarded a green safety streamer to the Soldiers of the 51st Transportation Co. for going 180 days without an accident. It was the second safety streamer awarded to the Mannheim, Germany-based Soldiers of the 51st Transportation Co. The transportation Soldiers assumed authority, July 12, 2008, and are also on a 15-month deployment.

After tying on the streamers, and presenting the units with certificates of appreciation, Pitts huddled the Soldiers around him and spoke a few words.

"You all have made safety a lifestyle," said Pitts. "But don't rest on your laurels. Take what you have learned and apply it forward. Don't lose your edge; you want to own the edge. Manage your risk and continue to stay engaged."

Capt. Joshua Kerton, commander, 51st Transportation Co., said he was proud of his Soldiers, who were the first in the brigade to earn two safety streamers, the first for 90 days, the second for 180 days.

"It's just a great achievement that shows how dedicated our Soldiers are to each other and to accomplishing this mission," said Kerton.

The 16th Sust. Bde., based out of Bamberg, Germany, assumed authority for Q-West and for logistics operations in northern Iraq after an Aug. 9, 2008, transfer of authority ceremony. The brigade is on a 15-month deployment.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2009
• Date Posted: 07.06.2009 03:50
• Story ID: 36005
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ