By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Soldiers of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, strap down excess engines to turn in to the Fort Carson Supply Support Activity. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
While Soldiers of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are away on their deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, its rear detachment Soldiers are hard at work gathering excess and nonserviceable equipment to turn in at the Supply Support Activity.
“The unit had close to 600 recoverable parts,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Case, motor pool NCO in charge, Company B, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd ABCT. “We are turning in five engines that are worth more than $200,000 each that we can get back to our unit’s funding. That’s roughly $1.1 million back to the unit.”
According to Case, the extra money will increase the unit’s readiness.
“It’s going to help with getting newer parts for our equipment,” said Case. “All the battalions have been working as a whole to get things done. We have a lot of good leaders in the rear (detachment), as well as Soldiers.”
Some Soldiers, such as Spc. Randall Delano, wheeled vehicle mechanic, Company B, 64th BSB, take on lead roles.
“I kept the Soldiers motivated to get things done. It was hard, but we kept working,” Delano said.
Spc. Jesse Kantar, motor transport operator, Company J, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, straps down engines for turn in to the Supply Support Activity at Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)
There’s always a negative narrative about rear detachment Soldiers, said rear detachment Sgt. Maj. Christopher Williams.
He said the Soldiers are considered the brigade’s “eighth battalion.”
“We work full days,” said Williams. “We conduct (physical training) in the morning. I believe we have leaders who are continuing to support and go after the mission. We have the best Soldiers here supporting the unit forward.”
The unit had roughly $3.9 million in equipment to turn in and are down to $733,000 left, and that was all done in a month, Williams said.
“I thank the division, other units, garrison, (Directorate of Public Works) and many other agencies for the support,” said Williams.
In addition to the equipment turn in, the rear detachment force got back to basic Soldiering, cleaned barracks rooms that will be used by single Soldiers when they return from duty in Europe and are taking care of the Families of those deployed while also changing the perception of the culture of rear detachment Soldiers, said Williams.