By Pvt. 1st Class Anna Churco
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard welcomed the 121st Transportation Company, 228th Transportation Battalion with a unit activation ceremony here Jan. 7.
The 121st Transportation Company mission is to provide an expanded fuel hauling and distribution capability to the units of the Pennsylvania National Guard and the units it will support both at home and around the world.
The 121st Transportation Company is one of five newly activated units under the 213th Regional Support Group. The other newly activated organizations include the 228th Transportation Battalion, the 721st Transportation Company, the 252nd Quartermaster Company, and the 108th Area Support Medical Company.
The transportation expertise of the Soldiers assigned to the 121st will be able to provide more responsive distribution and hauling capabilities to communities throughout the western region of the state during emergencies.
During the ceremony, 1st Sgt. Brian Koontz, a resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, accepted the position of first sergeant for the 121st Transportation Company, and Capt. David Boyles, a resident of Pittsburgh, accepted the position of company commander.
“This is a momentous occasion, and it is rare in the Army to have the opportunity to command a new unit and be the first to hold the unit guidon,” said Boyles.