Illinois Army Reserve takes reigns of theater movement operations

Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Keith Barta, left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Darren Dwyer, the command team of the 419th Movement Control Battalion, U.S. Army Reserves- Bartonville, Ill., 3rd Sustainment Brigade, uncase their unit guide-on, during a ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, April 15, 2015. The 419th Movement Control Battalion took control of theater movement operations from the 49th Movement Control Battalion, after they completed their nine-month mission in Afghanistan and Kuwait.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

04.15.2015

Story by Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - As one chapter comes to a close, so must another begin. For Soldiers with the 49th Movement Control Battalion, out of Fort Hood, Texas, their nine month deployment to Afghanistan and Kuwait concluded April 15, as movement operations transitioned to a new team who will continue to scribe the transportation story in the Middle East.

In a transfer of authority ceremony, the 419th Movement Control Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve- Bartonville, Illinois, officially assumed the theater movement control mission as their unit colors unfolded at Camp Arifjan and the 49th MCB’s were cased.

“We are humbled and grateful for the warm reception and execution of the relief in place,” said Lt. Col. Keith Barta, who leads 419th MCB with Command Sgt. Maj. Darren Dwyer. “We are looking forward to performing to the upmost of our abilities managing theater transportation.”

The 419th MCB command team replaces Lt. Col. Myron Bell and Command Sgt. Maj. Juan Diaz De Leon, who left Fort Hood, Texas, in July 2014 to go to Bagram, Afghanistan.

“We completed over 500 flights moving more than 6,100 passengers and 33,500 pounds of cargo throughout Afghanistan,” said Bell, who hails from Wichita, Kansas. “Additionally, we facilitated movement of 61700 pounds of mail and processed almost 8,000 National Afghan Trucking contracted movement requests.”

About half way through their deployment, their team was re-missioned to Kuwait to continue their efforts with theater-level movement control operations.

“Most recently, we managed the $19 million ground transportation contract in Kuwait,” added Bell. “We helped to re-establish the ground line of communication between Kuwait and Iraq at the Khabari crossing.”

Col. Tony Coston, commander of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, presided over the ceremony.

“The 49th MCB has partnered with 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Theater Gateway, Kuwait Ministry of Interior, and all 6 Regional Commands in Afghanistan,” said Coston.

“The transportation corps has a motto - ‘Nothing happens until something moves’, in the Central Command- nothing happens and nothing moves without the 49th.”

“We take pride in knowing that we’ve answered our Nation’s call with honor, integrity and great distinction,” said Bell. “It is now 419th’s turn to continue the transportation legacy.”

Though, the 419th MCB hails from Illinois, it is comprised of Soldiers throughout the Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. They left their homes in February to mobilize at Fort Hood, Texas. They will be assisting in Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Resolute Support and Operation Spartan Shield.

• Date Taken: 04.15.2015
• Date Posted: 04.16.2015 04:49
• Story ID: 160135
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: BARTONVILLE, IL, US
• Hometown: FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US
• Hometown: PEORIA, IL, US