CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait—Command authority of the Second Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade was transferred during a traditional military ceremony, Aug. 1.
More than 200 members and associates of the 401st AFSB, Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and contractors attended the event where Army Lt. Col. Joseph E. Ladner IV, from Gulfport, Miss., received the Battalion Command from Lt. Col. Lawrence W. Fuller.
Fuller expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Soldiers, contractors and Department of the Army
civilians, more than 3,000 strong— now directly supporting his battalion missions.
"Battle loss/battle damage repair, refurbishment programs, coalition support; truly phenomenal
accomplishments in record time— all because of the dedicated selfless service of the members of this Battalion," said Fuller.
In his message to the audience, the 401st Brigade Commander, Col. Dennis M. Thompson, praised Fuller for his honorable two-year deployment.
"Responsible for the sustainment and management of more than 240,000 pieces of Army prepositioned stocks including watercraft, Larry (Fuller) ensured this materiel was always ready for issue when needed . . . Larry oversaw the first of eight issues of Army prepositioned stock during his time in command."
"The importance of this mission was never more evident than over the past few months when this great battalion repaired, replenished and issued this critical equipment to our forces as Soldiers deployed into theater supporting our reinforcing operations in Iraq," said Thompson.
Fuller's next assignment will be with the U.S. Army Human Resource Command, Alexandria, Va.
The Brigade Commander challenged Ladner; "Joe, your charge is to make this transfer invisible to the supported Soldiers. Find ways that we can improve our ability to support. Start your efforts with a standard of excellence grounded in Army Values; provide competent and caring leadership; foster a learning environment in which your Soldiers and civilians can learn and grow and be better for having served . . . and continue to support like a Champion," Thompson said.
Ladner's last assignment was Plans Officer for the United States European Command.
The 2-401st AFSB serves a vital role providing logistical support in Kuwait, the Army logistics hub for Southwest Asia. The brigade is part of the Army Sustainment Command, a subordinate command of the Army Materiel Command. AMC provides technology, acquisition support and logistics to ensure dominant land force capability for the Warfighter, the United States and its allies.
The 401st AFSB provides logistics support to Soldiers and coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq through the 2-401st in Kuwait, the 1-401st located in the State of Qatar, and the 3-401st at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.