‘BRO’ unit triumphs in facility hand-off

Photo By Staff Sgt. Takita Lawery | Maj. Forrest M. Taylor III, 4th IBCT officer in charge of the 4th IBCT facility transfer project, gives information on the transferring of facilities across the “Dragon” brigade footprint during a Nov. 4. Combined Arms Rehearsal at the Close Combat Tactical Training Center on Fort Riley Taylor is responsible for working with the Fort Riley Department of Public Works to prepare and transfer facilities across the brigade to units within the division ahead of the brigade’s April 1 inactivation.  

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

04.20.2015

Story by Sgt. Takita Lawery 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

FORT RILEY, Kan. - In preparation for its inactivation April 1 as part of the Army’s plan to reduce the overall strength, Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team vigorously prepared and transferred 147 facilities to various units across the division.

Originally directed to transfer facilities in September 2015, Soldiers of the “Dragon” brigade have exceeded the timelines and expectations set early last year.

“Some of the bigger challenges that we initially faced were educating our team on (the Department of Public Works) facility transfer standards and understanding what work they could do themselves or how to go about getting assistance from DPW,” said Maj. Forrest M. Taylor III, officer in charge of the 4th IBCT facility transfer project.

What made this a workable task was the quality of personnel and leaders in the 4th IBCT, said James L. McGuire, a DPW industrial engineer technician working with the brigade.

Dragon brigade Soldiers did not act alone, however. The brigade’s achievement can be attributed to the hundreds of man hours spent working with Fort Riley’s DPW, which is responsible for inspecting and preparing facilities before transferring. It is during that process a number of standards have to be met.

“Fourth IBCT has been professional, inquisitive and collaborative throughout this process,” Kyle Ochs, DPW stationing manager, said. “Their ability to push left has been the keystone in giving the 1st Inf. Div. the ability to provide space for activating units.”

The key to ensuring facilities were ready for transfer was the training of the brigade’s repair and utility personnel. These Soldiers logged immeasurable hours painting offices and motor pools, replacing light fixtures and completing other projects to be in compliance with requirements.

The accelerated divestiture plan allowed Dragon brigade leaders to transfer facilities to other units across the division 120 to 180 days earlier than directed. By transferring three of its motor pools in March, the brigade set the conditions for six units from both 1st and 2nd armored brigade combat teams to move into their new motor pools early. This afforded 2nd ABCT Soldiers the opportunity to move into their new motor pools upon return from their rotation at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, California.

• Date Taken: 04.20.2015
• Date Posted: 05.04.2015 15:25
• Story ID: 162176
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US