401st AFSBn-Kandahar issues equipment to last unit, preps for drawdown

By Sharonda Pearson, 401st AFSB Public AffairsAugust 8, 2013

2/1 CAV Soldier performs PMCS
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. David Delgado conducts maintenance checks to ensure that the unit's MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected armored fighting vehicle is fully mission capable. Delgado is assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the last unit sc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2/1 CAV Soldiers inventory equipment
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The Army Field Support Battalion-Kandahar, 401st Army Field Support Brigade issued equipment to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, which is the last unit scheduled to receive equipment from the battalion in preparation for the reduction of U.S. military presence and full transition to Afghan security lead by December 2014.

"As the single face to the Warfighter, the 4-401st AFSBs commitment to sustaining the Warfighter will never waver even when faced with changing requirements as we execute the battalion drawdown," said 401st AFSBn-Kandahar commander, Lt. Col. Roy Speaks.

"The battalion will develop flexible strategies for the drawdown of forces and equipment, but we can't lose focus on our primary mission of providing world-class support to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and NATO partners on the ground," he added.

Steve Collins, the 401st AFSBn-Kandahar retail accountability officer-in-charge of overseeing the equipment issue, says that it's a team effort to ensure that the unit has all the necessary equipment for mission success.

"There is a lot of logistics involved in making sure the unit has the equipment that it needs. It's truly a team effort between the 401st AFSBn-Kandahar and its contractor partners to ensure the Warfighter is squared away before they leave the gate," Collins said. "401st AFSB personnel issues weapons to the unit and coordinates PM support, AC-First stages vehicles in preparation for pick up and performs any necessary minor repairs, Honeywell personnel verifies serial numbers with the unit supply personnel, and the Soldiers inventory all Basic Issue Items and verifies that the equipment is fully mission capable before signing for it," he added.

Second Lt. James Gonzalez, the officer-in-charge from 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, said that the support the 401st AFSB provides is essential to mission success outside the wire.

"This step is absolutely critical to making sure we have all the required equipment before we step outside the wire," he said. "We are able to come here and receive the necessary equipment to ensure that we have the same operational capabilities here in Afghanistan that we would at Fort Hood [Texas]. You can't win the fight without your equipment."

Speaks believes that the 2nd BCT/1st Cav Div equipment fielding demonstrates the battalion's diversity and ability to effectively meet the sustainment needs of the Warfighter while simultaneously executing retrograde missions.

"As the U.S. reduces its personnel and basing footprints in Afghanistan, redeployment and retrograde has become an increasingly larger part of our operation, and we're meeting the challenge head on" he said. "During the fielding of the 2/1 Cav we received and processed for retrograde over 100 percent of our monthly goal for rolling stock."

"Sustaining the Warfighter remains our No. 1 priority, but we are equally committed to assisting in the retrograde and redeployment of the more than 11 years worth of equipment in Afghanistan. A mission of this magnitude is not just a logistician concern. It's going to take synchronization at every leve l- -from the battalion commander and brigade commander, to the strategic level commander -- and we are ready to do our part," Speaks said.

Related Links:

The 1st Cavalry Division

U.S. Army Materiel Command

U.S. Army Sustainment Command

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2nd "Black Jack" Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Facebook