Courtesy Photo | Col. Jered P. Helwig, commander of 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, joins...... read more read more
BAUMHOLDER, Germany - Command teams from forces currently or prospectively serving in the region gained eyewitness perspective and abundant opportunities for engagement with fellow leaders and permanently based personnel and units during a dynamic tour of key support sites across Germany and the Atlantic Resolve-North operating areas across Eastern Europe conducted Nov. 7-10.
The leaders combined professional development with reconnaissance.
“We initially came to conduct a site survey of the regionally allocated forces and also to do leadership development with the support units already out here,” said Col. Jered P. Helwig, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division’s Sustainment Brigade. “It is a complicated mission set. We found a lot of areas where we learn good lessons regarding how we provide support in ways we haven’t dealt with since before Iraq and Afghanistan era.”
The rotational force leaders and regional leaders alike received valuable insights and support from leaders of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 16th Sustainment Brigade. The overall intent of 16th Sustainment Brigade leadership was to engage logistics troops on the ground in key locations, and familiarize the rotational forces with operations, preparing staff and Soldiers alike to continue “seamless sustainment” in the joint operating area.
Maj. David S. Thompson, the 16th Sustainment’s support operations officer, accompanied the command team, offering his expertise and delving into various logistical requirements at each location.
“Looking forward, it is important to share what we learned with fellow sustainers,” said Thompson. “For instance, the process that goes into moving hazardous material in Europe is unique and we hope to equip our colleagues so they can return and establish the framework for a potential, yet successful, transition.”
Knight’s Brigade staff officers briefed their own higher headquarters prior to the mission, detailing their own concept of support to Maj. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, the TSC commanding general. Feedback from the commander offered a detailed insight into the planning and requirements to sustain the joint operating area.
During the visit, leaders and staff personnel from the 3rd and 4th Sustainment Brigades met with Soldiers operating at forward sites in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, sharing meals and talking about the challenges from individual troops’ perspective. The interaction produced valuable feedback and built situational awareness.
“We came here to look at the existing capabilities within U.S. Army Europe and examine potential shortfalls so we could understand how to assist and establish long term framework,” said Col. Ronald R. Ragin, commander of the 4th Infantry Division’s Sustainment Brigade.
“I was looking forward to seeing the Baltic region. I’ve heard so much about the support structure and how Soldiers are getting after the mission with the resources available,” added Command Sgt. Maj. Lenard J. Summers of the 3rd ID’s Sustainment Brigade.
The visiting leaders emerged with valuable insights and lessons learned from the Atlantic Resolve locations. According to participants, the organizations will incorporate new information and experiences into preparations and training programs they’ll implement at their home stations. The next step, they added, will be sending movement control teams into theater to observe and interact with personnel currently operating in the region, helping to prepare for their own successful rotations.
“Overall it has been an eye-opening experience,” Ragin said.
“Grasping the complexities of the environment, as well as the time and distance between strategic nodes, I could visualize how we are optimizing different capabilities currently in place. What I wanted to see was how we can utilize this framework to support the deterrence mission and if the situation escalates, do we have everything we need in place or coordinated.”
| Date Taken: | 11.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2015 05:47 |
| Story ID: | 182979 |
| Location: | BAUMHOLDER, RP, DE |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Rotational leaders demonstrate ‘Atlantic Resolve’ during European site visit, by 1LT Hannah Morgan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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