436th MCB passes torch to 420th MCB

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Charlotte Reavis | CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The 436th Movement Control Battalion, based out of Staten Island, N.Y., conducted a transfer of authority to the 420th MCB, based out of Sherman Oaks, Calif., on Aug. 23, here. Both units are United States Army Reserve with nine-month deployment rotations. (Photo by U. S. Army Staff Sgt. Charlotte Reavis, 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary))  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

08.23.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. Charlotte Reavis 

143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The 436th Movement Control Battalion, based out of Staten Island, N.Y., conducted a transfer of authority to the 420th MCB, based out of Sherman Oaks, Calif., on Aug. 23, here. Both units are United States Army Reserve with nine-month deployment rotations.
Movement Control Battalions manage most of the assets within theater and ensure soldiers and all their supporting equipment are moved to the right location at the right time. The Central Command area of responsibility is approximately 20 countries with an ever-changing environment in which moving anything can provide a challenge.
“In the last 9 months, the 436th has done their part to continue to bring honor to the lady liberty patch,” said Brig. Gen. Deborah Kotulich, deputy commanding general of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command-Operational Command Post, during her speech at the ceremony. “Building their list of tremendous accomplishments here in support of the CENTCOM AOR, Operations Freedom Sentinel, Inherent Resolve, Task Force Sinai and Spartan Shield.”
Kotulich went on to praise the 436th, listing their accomplishments by saying the unit assisted with thousands of troop bus movements, tens of thousands of passenger movements for soldiers deploying and redeploying in theater, as well as almost 4000 baggage trucks used to assist those movements.
“The 436th Movement Control Battalion had a very unique mission and executed it with professionalism and tremendous success of our sustainment mission,” she said.
During the ceremony, the 436th MCB battalion commander, Lt. Col. Charles Valdes also spoke, stating he was proud of his team of soldiers and how they ensured the units throughout theater had what they needed to make sure their mission was successful.
“It fills me with great pride to see soldiers, their equipment and their supplies make it to the final destination as quickly and smooth as the mission would allow,” he continued. “To the mighty staff of the 436th Movement Control Battalion, you are the spark that lit the way for thousands of movements in support of the warfighter. Each of you have done your part to ensure the mission success of our Battalion as well as the 1st Theater Support Command.”
According to Valdes, the deployment did not come without it’s fair share of challenges. He he stated the 436th came together as a team and coordinated the movement of cargo, trucks and personnel in and out of theater.
“You have fulfilled my intent countless times and made sure that our mission was completed down to the very last convoy and to the very last truck,” Valdes said. “Instead of merely counting the days out here, our soldiers made the days count.”
Both Kotulich and Valdes set the stage for incoming 420th MCB battalion commander, Lt. Col. Leopold Karanikolas, who stated the 420th was ready to take on the mission ahead of them.
“Today we accept the transfer of authority from the 436th,” Karanikolas said during the ceremony. “We accept our responsibility in this AO. We understand the mission that is being conducted; probably the most important mission that the United States Army is being conducted right now.”
Karanikolas stated that the 420th looks forward to continuing to foster and build on the relationships and hard work Valdes and the 436th have laid down.

• Date Taken: 08.23.2018
• Date Posted: 08.28.2018 04:38
• Story ID: 290538
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: SHERMAN OAKS, CA, US
• Hometown: STATEN ISLAND, NY, US