Brigade Support Battalion supports 4/2 SBCT Retrograde

Photo By Sgt. Spencer Rhodes | A soldier with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division waits to lead a stryker to its next downgrade station, Aug. 17, at Camp Virginia, Kuwait. The 4/2 SBCT is the only Stryker Brigade to self-Retrograde out of Iraq.  

CAMP VIRGINIA, KUWAIT

08.17.2010

Story by Spc. Spencer Rhodes 

53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait—The drawdown of forces throughout Iraq is an Army wide responsibility and the effort is felt from Iraq to the United States. In Kuwait, the Brigade Support Battalion, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, under the guidance of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Third Army, support’s this mission by facilitating a smooth self-retrograde from Iraq for the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

The 4/2 SBCT’s withdraw out of Iraq is historic as we transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom into Operation New Dawn. During OIF units would perform a relief in place, and leave their equipment for incoming units to fall in on. With the responsible drawdown of forces in Iraq, and no replacement for the 4/2 SBCT, the unit is driving their Strykers from Iraq to Camp Virginia, Kuwait conducting a self retrograde operation with all their equipment.

The BSB commander, Lt. Col. Thomas Cannington, says Camp Virginia is the retrograde site for all 4/2 SBCT soldiers leaving Iraq. The BSB worked hard to create a staging area specifically for the Stryker Brigade, called “Four Corners”. This staging area will allow the 4/2 SBCT too quickly and efficiently strip all unnecessary gear and weapons systems from their vehicles before they move to the wash racks.

“We are their support site to help prep their equipment. That’s why Four Corners was established, for them to come in and download all their combat vehicles, and get them ready for cleaning and shipping back to Ft. Lewis,” Said Cannington.

The preparation for the incoming brigade contains extensive participation from many parties within Camp Virginia. Capt. Eric Moore, the Camp Virginia Action Officer and Contracting Officer Representative has been in charge of coordinating the retrograde operation on Camp Virginia for the past two months.

Moore emphasizes the importance of properly coordinating with different parties and keeping a continual flow of communication, particularly with the contractors on post, to get the staging area set up in a short period of time, before the bulk of the 4/2 SBCT arrived in theater.

“A lot of it was coordinating with contractors to support what was formerly a barren desert into fully functional motor pools and maintenance areas,” said Moore.

The Strykers are all being downloaded to their original form; meaning any extra technology added to the vehicle in support of the mission in Iraq is being removed. As each Stryker comes through, they go through a series of disposal lanes allowing them to discard items like trash, ammo, water cases, and other materials that are not attached to the Stryker itself.

In addition to the Stryker vehicles, the entire brigade, over the course of three weeks, will move through Camp Virginia putting a strain on Camp operations. Moore says the average transient time on Camp Virginia is 24 to 72 hours. The average 4/2 SBCT soldier is staying about ten days. With the retrograde being a highly logistical operation, ten days means less flexibility and more adapting by the BSB, who manages the living areas.

“Many of the soldier’s daily missions are maintaining the quality of life, security and the operations on camp. For such a large group to come in, it requires additional support and coordination during the daily missions,” said Moore.

According to Master Sgt. Dennis Robinson, billeting non-commissioned officer for the BSB, advanced planning was imperative prior to the 4/2 SBCT rolling through Camp Virginia. Because of the large number of soldiers, a specific living area was set aside, so other transient Soldiers living in temporary billeting would not be adversely affected. Each PAD, or living area, is maintained by an NCO and his or her soldiers.

“We have to coordinate through our PAD manager to clear areas to hold large numbers for an extended period, and still accommodate other transient units as efficiently as possible,” said Robinson.

Throughout their deployment, the Brigade Support Battalion has tackled multiple projects, some of them as large as the 4/2 SBCT Retrograde mission coming through Camp Virginia. The majority of the Stryker Brigade went through Camp Virginia in just over three weeks. Even after those three weeks are over, the BSB will continue to accommodate Soldiers coming out of Iraq, as they did with the 4/2 SBCT.

• Date Taken: 08.17.2010
• Date Posted: 09.07.2010 10:25
• Story ID: 55837
• Location: CAMP VIRGINIA, KW