By John D. Ortiz
4th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The 4th Sustainment Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas took charge of supplying the combat forces in Iraq from the 640th Sust. Bde., headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., in a transfer of authority ceremony.
The 640th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., handed the reins of authority for supplying the combat forces in Iraq to the 4th Sust. Bde., from Fort Hood, Texas, in a transfer of authority ceremony here.
The 4th Sust. Bde., under the command of Col. Terence Hermans, assumed the task as the commander and supplier of combat equipment and personnel to the U.S. Army Central Command (ARCENT), Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I), and Multi-National Corps-Kuwait (MNC-K) area of operations.
The task of a theater-level distribution mission is the first for a modularized sustainment brigade and the 4th Sust. Bde's., second deployment after previously becoming the first fully modular sustainment brigade to support the Multi-National Division-Baghdad (MND-B) AO, two years ago.
The ceremony marks the end of a three-week period in which the 4th Sust. Bde., sat in the passenger seat for a week, transitioned to the driver's seat and took control of theater convoys with guidance from the 640th Sust. Bde.
"This ceremony is a first for a brigade-size element," said Brig. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard, the commanding general for the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), "it used to be when the new guy came onboard, the old unit would say 'I'm so glad you're here, I'm gone,' but this is a deliberate three-week process because individuals have to think about why they are here, and the strategic importance of Kuwait and [the 4th Sust. Bde.,] is going to take over the strategic mission."
"The best thing for this ceremony is to provide a venue to thank those involved for doing a successful mission," said Leonard. "There really is a debt owed to each and every one of you that can never be paid, as one Soldier to another, thank you for your service and for being a part of the 'First Team'."
"The 640th Sust. Bde., leaves a great legacy from a collective effort," he said, "[the unit] moved more gallons of fuel each day than the famed Red Ball Express did in over a month, and accomplished the mission in which every convoy was a movement to contact, with some missions lasting in excess of 21days."
The 640th Sust. Bde., has accomplished amazing things given the time frame of their deployment, said Leonard, "the support given to the war effort has been the real measure of success with no mission ever being stopped or even paused due to logistics."
"There are several things that I can say to the 4th Sust. Bde.," said Col. Brett Nila, the 640th Sust. Bde., commander, "be flexible, things change at a moment's notice, ask a lot of questions, never take anything for granted, and take care of the individuals who are doing the hard work."
"Upon arrival into theater, the 640th Sust. Bde., welcomed and took care of us, and the knowledge that was accumulated over the year was transferred over to [the 4th Sust. Bde.,] said Col.
Terrence Hermans, the 4th Sust. Bde., commander, "they taught us a new concept called 'Battle Space,' in which commanders at all echelons apply all available combat power to dominate their area of responsibility, and made sure that we grasped the concept."
"As we take the reins today, we will build on their success and work," said Hermans, "we will endeavor to take the operation to the next level of excellence and look forward to a legacy that builds on what the 640th Sust. Bde., has done and beginning a new chapter in the Kuwait area of operations and joining the 'First Team'."