FORWARD OPERATING BASE DEHDADI II, Afghanistan – The 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion “Warrior,” from Fort Lee, Va., relinquished their authority of sustainment operations in support of Regional Command North to the 378th CSSB “Lightning,” from Annville, Pa. in a ceremony at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent here Jan. 10.

Speaking to the formations, Col. Kurt J. Ryan, the 10th Sustainment Brigade commander, expressed appreciation for everything leaders and soldiers of the 530th CSSB accomplished during their yearlong tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Your contributions to winning this fight in Afghanistan are unprecedented,” said Ryan. “The accomplishments to fuel, fix, distribute, life support and mission command are mind-boggling.”

Over the course of the year, the Warrior battalion oversaw seven subordinate units who ensured the mission was carried out.

“We didn’t do this alone,” said Lt. Col. Austin Elliott, the 530th CSSB commander.

Elliott said it was unlikely his unit would have accomplished much at all without the support of coalition partners, Afghan National Security Forces, the Dehdadi community and numerous leaders who supported the 530th CSSB.

After arriving in theater, the Lightning battalion took a few days to focus on learning from the challenges the Warriors encountered during their tour. They watched and conducted tasks alongside their counterparts and soon were performing every task themselves, with warriors observing to ensure a smooth transition.

The successful transition of two units is crucial to operations and some people compare it to changing an engine on a plane mid-flight; success is in everyone’s best interest.

“It was a very planned organized event,” said Lt. Col. Vivian E. Gaz, the 378th CSSB commander. “Every section had very detailed tasks of what they had to do.”

The Lightning battalion was originally scheduled to deploy to Iraq. With a change of mission, it now finds itself in Afghanistan supporting thousands of warfighters, maintaining the momentum of the campaign.

With so many tasks and challenges ahead of the Lightning battalion ahead, Gaz ensured one of her top priorities is ensuring every soldier goes back home safely.

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