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By Capt. Justin Cawthon
316th Expeditionary Sustainment Commande
LOGISTIC SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, IRAQ - A little less than a year since being reactivated and stood up, which included close to nine months of grueling mobilization training at Fort Lee, Va., Fort Dix, N.J. and Fort Bragg, N.C., the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) conducted their official patch ceremony on Aug. 19.
Soldiers of the 316th ESC are now authorized to wear the right sleeve patch, signifying they have deployed and served in a wartime environment under hostile conditions.
It is a big step for the 316th, said Command Sgt. Maj. Stacey E. Davis, the 316th ESC command sergeant major. It shows that the unit is ready for anything thrown their way.
While the patch ceremony was brief, the symbolism behind it was important. It formally recognized the Soldiers of the 316th ESC as a deployed unit in the Iraqi theater.
The ceremony was held in the 316th ESC Joint Operations Center (JOC) prior to the shift change brief to ensure as many Soldiers as possible could make the ceremony.
"It was important to have a lot of Soldiers at the ceremony," said Davis. "It was a big part of the unit's history."
The JOC sprang to attention as the 316th ESC Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Gregory E. Couch, entered the JOC followed closely by Davis.
Couch then gave a brief synopsis on the meaning of the combat patch, the reason for wearing it and then proceeded to read a passage straight from Army Regulation 670-1 authorizing the wear of the patch.
He explained he would apply Davis's patch, because the CSM was his battle buddy with whom he had gone to war before.
However, Couch stated wearing the 316th ESC patch was not mandatory. Soldiers are permitted to wear the 18th Airborne Corps patch when they assumed the Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) mission or wear a unit patch from a previous deployment.
"With this being my first time over here, I am proud to wear the 316th patch as my combat patch," said Spc. Scott Chaffin, 316th ESC Headquarters and Headquarter Company supply specialist.
Couch stated he would wear the 316th ESC unit patch because he was proud of what the unit had accomplished in the course of their mobilization.
After Davis received his patch, every Soldier in the JOC proceeded to apply the 316th ESC patch to their right shoulder, under the U.S. flag, to display their combat service with the 316th ESC.
What the unit has done in just a year is outstanding, said Couch. You would find it difficult to find a better group of Soldiers in the Army.
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2007 15:37 |
| Story ID: | 12044 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 637 |
| Downloads: | 241 |
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