By Sgt. David Freydin
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Maj. Kelly Pajak, battle captain, 7th Mission Support Command, right, discusses operations with Capt. Julius Price, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Jan. 7, 2017, inside the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s forward command post in Garlstedt, Germany. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta)
GARLSTEDT, Germany — The 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, partnered together to provide mission command and logistical and maintenance support for the nine-month deployment to Europe of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.
The sister brigades joined forces Jan. 5, 2017, to provide support for approximately 4,000 Fort Carson Soldiers and 2,800 vehicles and equipment from 3rd ABCT as they traversed from Colorado to Germany and into Poland.
“This is historic,” said Col. Ronald R. Ragin, commander, 4th SB. “I’ve never seen two sustainment communities come together like this — it’s a beautiful synchronization. The two sustainment brigades complement each other very well and collaborate information and resources to execute the mission expeditiously and efficiently.”
The sustainment brigades’ main responsibility was to ensure that all the vehicles and equipment were successfully transported by cargo ships, rail, commercial line-haul and military convoy. 4th SB also executed mission command while in Germany, providing fuel, rations, medical, security, mechanics, communications and tracking services while 16th SB took control of all sustainment functions in Poland.
“One of the things that enabled the success of the two brigades is that 16th SB is German-based and we have familiarity with German regulations and unique characteristics of the environment,” said Lt. Col Gregory Fend, G4, 21st TSC. “We were able to plan ahead in a foreign environment and shorten the learning curve for 4th SB.”
Even though operations began in January, Fend said that the real key to success was communicating with 4th SB months prior to the start of movement.
“We were able to obtain the training plan of events for 3rd ABCT and develop and rehearse a plan of action with key leaders,” explained Fend. “Communicating with 4th SB allowed us to stay ahead of the curve while refining our team effort.”
Col. Ronald R. Ragin, second from left, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Demetrius Brown, right, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, discuss staging operations with Soldiers from 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, at the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Jan. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)
The two major movements in Germany occurred at the Port of Bremerhaven and Bergen Honne, Germany, which included staging and moving87 tanks, 18 Paladins, 419 multipurpose Humvees and 144 Bradleys.
“It’s been great working with 16th SB,” said Staff Sgt. Bruce Burrus, convoy NCO, 152nd Movement Control Team, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th SB, who was responsible for the movement of vehicles from the Port of Bremerhaven.
“The joint effort makes it possible for me to do what I do. I wouldn’t be able to do my job, getting these vehicles to Poland, without them.”
The 4th SB personnel were professional and easy to work with, said Maj. Kelly Pajak, battle captain, 7th Mission Support Command.
“Their Soldiers have been very proactive in finding a combined solution, setting the stage as we progress forward,” he said.
The 16th SB will continue to support the “Iron” Brigade over the next nine months as it participates in multinational training exercises across eastern Europe.
The 3rd ABCT deployment is in support of Atlantic Resolve, which began in April 2014 with the intent of defending NATO territory against any possible aggression. The arrival of 3rd ABCT in Poland marks the beginning of the continuous presence of an ABCT and back-to-back rotations of U.S. troops and equipment.