Promoted Soldier serves proudly and seeks citizenship

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Luis Greaves, a supply sergeant with the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Panama City, Panama, native, recites the Non-Commissioned Officer's Creed during his promotion ceremony held Sept. 16 outside of the 110th CSSB headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Leticia Mitchell)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

09.16.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

By Sgt. Blake Pittman

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Staff Sgt. Luis Greaves, a supply sergeant with the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Panama City, Panama, native, was promoted to staff sergeant in a ceremony held Sept. 16 outside of the battalion headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

Greaves had already taken on extra responsibilities by becoming the acting non-commissioned officer- in-charge for the logistics and supply section of the battalion commander’s staff.

Greaves was born in Panama and immigrated to the U.S. in 1984. In 1985, he joined the U.S. Army, where he served on active duty for 8 1/2 years in Germany, Fort Drum, N.Y., and Fort Carson, Colo. When he left active duty, he immediately enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard.

He volunteered for deployment in 2008 and was sent to Camp Cropper in Baghdad with the 114th Infantry Company from the New Jersey Army National Guard. Upon redeploying in mid-2009, he immediately raised his hand to be sent back with the 110th CSSB in February 2010.

“I don’t whine about things,” said Greaves. “Everyone’s been fair to me.”

Greaves now serves with the 110th CSSB on the second of back-to-back deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and now Operation New Dawn. Greaves tried deploying as a volunteer once before while on active duty in Germany when the U.S. invaded Panama during Operation Just Cause in 1989, but he was told that the deployment was for key personnel only. Though he has called the U.S. his home for more than 25 years, Greaves has not yet become a naturalized citizen. He expects that will change at a swearing-in ceremony at COB Adder in November.

In the civilian world, Greaves is a driver for Swift Transportation, Inc., a coast-to-coast motor-shipping carrier. “But I only go from Arizona to Pennsylvania,” said Greaves. “So it’s whatever you want to call it.”

When he gets back home this time, however, he’s keeping his eye open for other prospects. Whatever that entails, he does plan to continue his dual role as a citizen-soldier. He will be eligible for retirement in 2012, but he said wants to stay in the National Guard for at least a few more years.

• Date Taken: 09.16.2010
• Date Posted: 10.11.2010 12:48
• Story ID: 57900
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ