3ABCT Soldiers stay true to commander’s intent

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ange Desinor | Spc. Jesse Kantar, left, a motor transport operator for Juliet Company 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, and Pvt. Brianna Hall, a wheeled vehicle mechanic for Bravo Company, 64 Brigade Support Battalion, both in 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, strap engines down to turn in to the Supply Support Activity, Fort Carson, Colorado, Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt Ange Desinor)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

03.15.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor  

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORT CARSON, Colorado – While Soldiers of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division are away on their deployment in support of Operations Atlantic Resolve, the rear detachment Soldiers are hard at work gathering excess or non-serviceable equipment to turn in at the Supply Support Activity, Fort Carson, Colorado.

“The unit had over close to 600 recoverable parts,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Case, the motorpool noncommissioned officer in charge for Bravo Company, 64th Brigade Support Battalion. “Right now we are turning in five engines that are worth more than 200 thousand dollars each that we can get back to our unit’s funding. That’s roughly 1.1 million dollars back in the unit.”

According to case, the extra money will increase the unit’s readiness.

“It’s going to help with getting newer parts for our equipment,” said Case. “All the battalions have been working as a whole to get things done. We have a lot of good leaders in the rear, as well as Soldiers. Spc. Delano is one of the best mechanics that I have here.”

Some Soldiers, such as Delano take on lead roles.

“My day was hectic,” said Spc. Randall Delano, a wheeled vehicle mechanic for Bravo Company 64th BSB. “I kept the Soldiers motivated to get things done. It was hard, but we kept working.”

There’s always a negative narrative about rear detachment Soldiers, said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Williams, the rear detachment sergeant major.

“The narrative is that they have problems, don’t do much, go home early, or they’re really not engaged in what the mission is forward,” Williams said. “I can happily say in the rear detachment we have here, we are changing that narrative.”

Williams said the Soldiers are considered the “eighth battalion.”

“We work full days,” said Williams. “We conduct [Army Physical Fitness Test] in the morning. We are the ‘eighth’ battalion of the mighty Iron Brigade. I believe we have leaders who are continuing to support and go after the mission. We have the best Soldiers here supporting the unit forward.”

The unit had roughly 3.9 million dollars in equipment to turn in and are down to 733 thousand dollars left, that was all done in a month, Williams said.

Besides the turn-ins, the Soldiers cleaned barracks that weren’t being used for when their Soldiers return, got back to basic Soldiering and taking care of the Families while changing the perception of the culture of rear detachment, said Williams.

“I thank the division, other units, garrison, [Department of Public Works], and many other agencies for the support,” said Williams.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2017
• Date Posted: 03.22.2017 09:18
• Story ID: 227692
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US