Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dowd, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, commanding general, talks...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Dowd, commander 1st Theater Sustainment Command, hosted local and regional media, providing an update of the First Team’s successes and emphasizing the on-going, enduring nature of the U.S. CENTCOM’s sustainment mission here April 6.
“We have soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians in all these countries, providing logistical support,” said Dowd, who explained the challenges of commanding this unique split-based, forward deployed, force tailored headquarters, charged to provide the depth and breadth of sustainment for an area larger than all of the U.S., and the 7000-plus active, reserve, National Guard, civilians and contractors who comprise this diverse, joint command. “Everything is on track,” he said.
“It’s quite a complex battlefield we work in,” said Dowd referring to the area of operations which spans six million square miles, and encompasses 20 countries, four time zones, over 570 million people, 49 ethnic groups, 60 languages and 27 religions. This area holds 58% of the world’s oil and 46% of the world’s natural gas. The general highlighted that the experience of his team comes from extended time in the theater, and shared throughout the team through multiple rotations and communicated to pre-deploying forces.
“I spend about 75% of my time forward in Kuwait, Iraq or Afghanistan,” said Dowd, “As you know, at least 1/3rd of my staff is deployed at all times. The other two thirds of the team are either getting ready to deploy or out in places like Fort Bliss conducting training for those units getting ready to come into theater, so they have the latest and greatest information about how to operate in the theater.”
Dowd oversees several subordinate brigades, personnel and finance management centers, customs and fuel groups, as well as the support of Task Force Sinai. This means the command manages a constant turnover throughout the theater and rapidly integrates units from various parts of the country and service to include active, reserve and National Guard.
“It’s all about relationships,” he said, when explaining why the team enjoys success on such a large and revolving scale.
The commander illustrated the organization’s operational control of critical sustainment which they achieve through partnering with strategic agencies such as the Defense Logistics Agency, and the full integration of subordinate units, such as the 230th Sustainment Brigade, among others, to facilitate, track and manage millions of dollars in equipment, fuel, supplies, warehouses and contracts, as well as thousands of personnel daily for Third Army.
He described the sustainment brigade provides dedicated line haul of U.S. equipment from Iraq, through Kuwait and provides airdrop support into Afghanistan and his security force brigade provides dedicated force protection, camp command cells as well as convoy escorts to the sustainment brigade. He explained how his transportation brigade coordinates ships and customs to standard with the local port authorities; his regional support group manages wash racks, tracks property and personnel movement at the gateway; and how his finance and personnel centers and directorates manage the cash authority, management and distribution of millions of dollars a month.
Sustaining the enduring logistics mission has provided the First Team with unparalleled expertise and well positioned the command to amply assist in the necessary operations from now through December 2011. “Previous rotations have given us valuable lessons learned, which we can apply to the future,” said Dowd.
Dowd then provided a laundry list of First Team accomplishments over the past year to include the initiative to create a separate theater gateway in one of the northern camps in Kuwait which hosted the historic 4-2 Stryker Brigade self-retrograde last August; aggressive renovations which enhanced that austere locale with scanners and displays, expediting tired troops’ travel. These improvements proved critical during the personnel surges despite record numbers this past Christmas, explained Dowd, summing up how those innovations and initiatives paved the way to the successful drawdown of 130 thousand troops (to 50 thousand) and equipment for the transition to Operation New Dawn
He explained that with the surge of personnel for Afghanistan came the surge in mail and R&R. He said First Team units anticipated, managed and facilitated aircraft, pushed mail teams forward, and ultimately ensured timely delivery of personnel home and mail downrange this past holiday season. “That was a big effort,” he said.
The TSC’s routine early assessment of operational needs ensured priority of critical equipment, parts, contracts and container management was in place, enabled and enhanced through redistribution property accountability teams or RPAT and RPAT yards in Iraq and how that template for success was again being implemented in Afghanistan.
He explained that First Team’s positive door to door control of assets enabled them the flexibility for the unexpected humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and ensured 100% rapid fielding of the life saving Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.13.2011 03:07 |
| Story ID: | 68660 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, DOWD: Getting after it! First Team Commander provides mission update, by LTC Catie Morelle-Oliveira, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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