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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers with the 101st Sustainment Brigade begin fifth deployment to Afghanistan.
The last soldiers of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, have arrived in Afghanistan to begin their next “Rendezvous with Destiny”.
More than 300 soldiers assigned to the “Lifeliners” brigade left Fort Campbell, Ky., in early November to begin their year-long deployment following 15-months of preparation. They are also the sixth brigade from the division to deploy to Afghanistan this year.
Brigade Executive Officer Lt. Col. Robert W. Eoff said the brigade’s mission will be to command all tactical logistics battalions in their specific areas of operation across the entire RC-East, North, and Capital regions.
“We direct those units to provide all the classes of supply and maintenance, and keep logistics automation systems running for the subordinate units that belong to those battalions,” he said. “We’ll also supply back-up support to the brigade support battalions of the combat brigade in their individual battle spaces.”
The “Lifeliners” are deploying to Afghanistan for a record fifth time, the most of any active duty sustainment brigade. They will replace the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and fight alongside their fellow Screaming Eagle brothers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Eoff had nothing but high praise for the brigade’s predecessors, saying “they did an outstanding job of setting us up for success.”
“The transition at the staff level could not have been easier,” he said. “Their automated products they’ve handed off, their experience and wisdom they gained, and the cross-talk has been truly exceptional.”
“We’ve had very little friction with the processes they use and the ones we’re going to use in making sure the combat soldier wants for nothing on the battlefield,” Eoff said.
The brigade was last at BAF in 2009. For Eoff, who is starting his second combat deployment to Afghanistan, the airfield has vastly changed since he was last here in 2003.
“Back then, [BAF] was a very small and very remote place, with nowhere near the things you see now,” he said. “The capability that exists here now is amazing. The changes here … overwhelming would be a good word for me to use.”
This deployment will be the first for many Soldiers assigned to the Sustainment Brigade. The amenities and programs located on BAF will go a long way in helping those soldiers develop a routine, Eoff said.
“We’ve got some assets at our disposal to help ease that transition and put their minds at ease,” he said. “They’re here to make sure the soldiers know somebody is here that cares for them and cares about them on the ground.”
Those types of programs should prove to be beneficial to first-time deployers such as Spc. Raul Ayala, a brigade legal specialist for the 101st Sustainment Brigade.
“I’m looking forward to this deployment for the general experience and knowledge of it,” he said.
Even the act of calling home to his wife of four years has taken on a special meaning.
“I call her every day, every night,” Ayala said. “She’s taking this deployment very well.”
The Sustainment Brigade will officially take over operations from the 82nd Sustainment Brigade during a Uncasing of the Colors Ceremony on Dec. 2.
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2010 00:04 |
| Story ID: | 60851 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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