Providers Take over Sustainment Mission for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.04.2017

Story by Spc. Elizabeth Clark 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The 3 rd Infantry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade assumed charge of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel’s sustainment operations during a Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on Nov. 4. The ceremony marks the end of 1 st Armored Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade’s involvement as the lead sustainers in theater and the beginning for the 3ID’s Providers.
Col. Jeffrey Britton, the commander of the 3 rd Inf. Div. RSSB, received authority from Col. Michael Lalor,
commander of the 1AD RSSB, during the ceremony. After six months of providing sustainment operations throughout the Afghan theater, the 1AD RSSB passed the torch to the Providers through cross-training in each section.
“Cross-communication with 1AD is key to success,” said Britton. “They set us up for success; there are no gaps in our ability to support United States Forces – Afghanistan.”
Even before the colors were uncased, transition from the 1AD RSSB to the 3ID RSSB was already happening. Teams of Providers had arrived in theater 40 days prior to the TOA ready to get started on their mission. With the guidance of the 1AD personnel well familiar with their jobs in the Combined Joint Operations Area, the Providers hit the ground running, ready to assume their roles as the lead sustainment brigade.
“We were in the left seat earlier than expected,” said 1 st Sgt. Christine Abram, first sergeant of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3 rd Special Troops Battalion, 3 rd Inf. Div. RSSB. “Our personnel
section jumped right in and started their job, we didn’t see them much in the right seat.”
Fundamentally, the mission has remained the same as it was at home: provide sustainment support for our forces and coalition partners. The challenge presented to the brigade is the element of the enemy.
The mission for the 3ID RSSB has evolved to combat this challenge.
“We measure our success as the ability to continue to support coalition partners as the OFS mission evolves,” said Britton. “We should not fail to provide sustainment operations for the Afghan theater at our end state.”
Looking to the future, Britton wants the Providers to pave the way for the next sustainment brigade, hoping that the Providers can pave a way forward for continued success as they continue to refine how they’re supporting their Afghan partners and how they’re stabilizing the country.

• Date Taken: 11.04.2017
• Date Posted: 11.04.2017 11:08
• Story ID: 254102
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF