By Sgt. James Geelen
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Command Sgt. Maj. William Briggs, left, senior enlisted leader, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and Lt. Col. Michael Iannucilli, commander, 68th CSSB, 4th SB, welcome Soldiers of 183rd Support Maintenance Company, 68th CSSB, 4th SB, home after a nine-month deployment Oct. 15, 2019, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group air terminal in Colorado Springs. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Approximately 130 Soldiers with 183rd Support Maintenance Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, returned Oct. 15, 2019, from a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The homecoming ceremony was held at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center where friends and Family gathered to celebrate their Soldiers’ return.
The company deployed in February with the mission of providing support to the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group.
“The 183rd was responsible for a very large and versatile mission,” said Capt. Tyler Fortenberry, commander, 183rd SMC, 68th CSSB, 4th SB. “We … were responsible for managing over 250 Soldiers from around the different battalions within the (SB). They were tasked with tracking, issuing and receiving every class of supply in support of U.S. Special Forces, Allied Forces from around the world and Iraqi armed forces.”
The Soldiers were spread out over 13 various locations in five countries.
“We were in Syria, Iraqi, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Jordan providing fleet maintenance, logistics and fixing weapons,” said Sgt. Geovany Mejia, supply sergeant, 183rd SMC, 68th CSSB, 4th SB. “Only a handful of those locations were dedicated ‘wrench-turners,’ whereas the others had civilian contractors filling those positions. So our Soldiers had to learn and adapt to a new mission set than they had previously executed.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Laken Carlton, 3, celebrates the arrival of her father Spc. Aspeen Carlton 183rd Support Maintenance Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, during a welcome home ceremony Oct. 15, 2019, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center, Fort Carson, Colo. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
Despite the complex mission requirements, the Soldiers provided critical maintenance to help facilitate mission success.
“Our mission was large and it had a huge impact on current operations,” Fortenberry said. “We came into a dwindling maintenance program and left with a 40-percent increase in the operational readiness rate of the brigade’s equipment. I would say that our company’s presence had a massive impact on the mission.”
After being separated from their Families for nine months, the Soldiers were eager to return home.
“I’m super excited to be back in Colorado and to be able to spend time with my wife,” Mejia said. “I can’t wait to go snowboarding and eat some fresh sushi.”
Fortenberry said he was proud of the company’s performance, hard work and dedication.
“I have great leaders in this company and it shows, because we are coming home with no accidents or fatalities and no administrative actions,” Fortenberry said. “We crushed any task thrown our way and did it with a smile.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 183rd Support Maintenance Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, march into the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center for a welcome home ceremony Oct. 15, 2019. The Soldiers supported Operation Inherent Resolve in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)