SAN ANTONIO - Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, 79th Sustainment Support Command (79th SSC) commander, presented the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (4th ESC) the Deployment Excellence Award during a ceremony at the 4th ESC's headquarters in San Antonio April 7.
The award, given by Tatu on behalf of U.S. Army Reserve Command, recognized the 4th ESC for its outstanding performance during their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Deployment Excellence Award annually recognizes active Army, Army Reserve and National Guard units and installations for outstanding deployments and deployment support.
The 4th ESC competed with other Army Reserve units in the Large Deploying Unit category and won. The 4th ESC will represent the Army Reserve, in the same category, during the Department of the Army level competition.
In a memorandum to the U.S. Army Reserve Command, Maj. Gen. William Frink Jr. states that the “4th ESC served as the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan (JSC-A), serving as the bridging headquarters between the operational and strategic level. In preparation for deployment the 4th ESC met 100 percent of all pre/post deployment tasks while overcoming equipment and personnel shortfalls.”
The memorandum continues to read, “During the deployment the 4th ESC developed innovative initiatives to break the status quo across all discipline using Champion Reliability Centered Maintenance, inventory, and cost-saving initiatives for container management; implementing Operation "Clear the Yards" to prevent pilferage and ensure accountability of equipment and fuel; facilitating Command Supply Discipline Program throughout Combined Joint Operational Area-Afghanistan to regain property accountability and establish effective CSDP, returning supplies and retrograding excess equipment valued in excess of $24 million.”
Col. Rufus Wood, 4th ESC chief of staff, received the award on behalf of the command.
Standing in front of the formation, he said, “This award is for the soldiers of the 4th ESC. Without you, your hard work, and dedication we could not have succeeded with our mission. This award is for you. Great job and congratulations.”
To be eligible for competition, Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Orozco, logistics officer for the 4th ESC, compiled the command’s numerous accomplishments, to include: saving millions of dollars in storage fees, delivering 1,356 containers from carrier holding yards, providing oversight and management of host nation trucking contracts, distributed 11 million meals per month valued at $140 million, distributed 45 million gallons of fuel per month valued at $338 million, distributed over 320 pallets for ammunition per month, moving over 6,800 passengers per month, and distributing over 4 million pounds of mail per month.
“The Deployment Excellence process was an opportunity for the 4th ESC to be recognized for achievement in deployment, maintenance, and logistics capabilities. This highlights the role that a forward logistics element plays in supporting the warfighter,” Orozco said.
“The 4th ESC was the first ESC to win in its (large) category for the United States Army Reserve. The chance of winning at the Department of the Army level is, without question, a great possibility and understandably the first of its kind,” Orozco said confidently.
The 4th ESC’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander, Capt. Pamela Elliott, was all smiles after being presented the award.
“I’m very proud of my soldiers. They worked extremely hard during the deployment and they continue to do so,” Elliott said.