By Cpl. Michael Molinaro
2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
FOB KALSU, Iraq – Support battalions are the backbone of Army's brigade combat teams, aiding and sustaining them in a variety of ways. Tasking one to continue its mission and at the same time, preparing and conducting a concentrated move to another base may seem like an undertaking no Soldier would be eager to carry out.
That is not the way Soldiers from 204th Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division, see it however; they envision moving from Forward Operating Base Duke as one more step closer to the goal of going home and leaving Iraq a more stable and secure nation.
"This move is the last in several large moves we've made," said Capt. Daniel Krug, operations officer, 204th SB. "A large area has already been transitioned. The military and border transition teams here will continue to mentor the Iraqi Security Forces."
Moving from FOB Duke in the Najaf province will enable the battalion to better support the brigade up north, he added. Word spread to the battalion's Soldiers in mid-May that a move would be commencing shortly and to begin long-range preparation to move to FOB Kalsu, which is located in the Babil province, Krug said. The potential move was something they had prepared for since deploying last year.
"We came here knowing we wouldn't be at Duke the whole time," Krug said. "We were prepared to jump at any time. We began to identify what assets could be moved without stopping the current mission."
The support battalion provides the brigade's units with numerous support roles, such as delivering all classes of supply, whether its water, building materials or Meal-Ready to Eat packages, maintenance supply and support and medical support. 204th SB runs one to two logistical package runs a day in the brigade area of operations. It also retrieves broken-down vehicles and equipment, repairs the items at FOB Duke and then returns them to the units.
"We continue to push logpacs every single night," said Krug. "Even though we are preparing to move, we haven't stopped our mission and are maintaining 100 percent sustainment to the brigade."
Besides delivering their usual supplies to FOB Kalsu, Soldiers are also bringing some non-essential equipment during logpacs, said Sgt. Angus Claytor, truck driver, Company A, 204th SB, such as heavy equipment and supply containers.
The number of vehicles in the logpacs is now significantly higher than before, Claytor added. While that adds more work for the Soldiers and more risk on the roads, they have taken on the responsibility without complaint and realize it's for the benefit of the brigade.
The battalion has also addressed other issues, such as force protection measures and living space. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT, have gradually taken over the outer guard towers from 204th SB and maintained FOB Duke's strict perimeter security discipline to the same high standard since arriving in December. Soldiers from 3-16 FA are scheduled to begin their move to FOB Kalsu later this summer before FOB Duke is transferred to Iraqi authorities.
The battalion is currently pre-positioning living containers at FOB Kalsu, Krug said. Leaders want to make the move as seamless as possible for Soldiers so their quality of life doesn't dissipate. Gravel is being hauled to FOB Kalsu as well so the battalion can create a solid base for its warehouse and motor pool, which will handle the heavy equipment.
Soldiers have been here since December and although such a move would seem like an inconvenience, Soldiers said they are looking at the move as progress in the ISF.
"It's a good thing," said Sgt. Laura Williams, truck driver, Co. A, 204th SB. "We have been training the Iraqis the whole deployment and now we can give them the area."
"I like (FOB) Duke better, but it's one step closer to going home," said Pfc. Octavio Foster, truck driver, Co. A, 204th SB. "That's all any of us want to do."
Moving to FOB Kalsu is the latest in a string of transfers of battle space and bases between Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the ISF over the past few months. ISF continue to make great strides all over Iraq – it is exactly what leaders from 4th Inf. Div. imagined before deploying.
"This whole move falls under Multi-National Division-Baghdad's campaign plan to transition area of operations to the Iraqis," said Krug. "AO Warhorse was huge, and we have cut out more than half of it already."
"I remember the Iraqi army in 2003 (during Operation Iraqi Freedom) and they had a tough job," he concluded. "Now they are planning missions, going on the roads and the Soldiers are more dedicated. This is a good thing."