JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - For one transportation Soldier from Contingency Operating Base Speicher, her re-enlistment ceremony here was a memorable one. Staff Sgt. Amethia Stevenson, human resources noncommissioned officer, 233d Transportation Company, 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, requested that Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, commanding general, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), administer the oath of enlistment during a ceremony April 22. "Having the 3rd ESC commander preside over my re-enlistment ceremony was a rewarding experience," said Stevenson, a native of Hopkinsville, Ken. "I am definitely looking forward to the rest of my military career." Stevenson, a native of Hopkinsville, Ken., said this was her fourth re-enlistment but her first deployment. The 233rd Trans. Co., under the 391st CSSB in Iraq, and from Fort Knox, Ky., met its re-enlistment goals for the fiscal year 2009 in the first quarter after 78 Soldiers in the unit re-enlisted. The unit primarily transports equipment using Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) systems. Staff Sgt. Richard Kral, retention noncommissioned officer in charge, 233rd Trans. Co., and a Fredericksburg, Va., native, assisted more than 120 Soldiers with information and requests for re-enlistment since August 2008, despite a drop in bonuses. "I have seen re-enlistment bonuses drop significantly in the past months and in some cases Soldiers who would have re-enlisted weeks prior would have seen almost $5,000 more in re-enlistment bonuses." Soldiers in their initial term and mid-career term have decided to put a few extra years under their belts and this has kept the company's re-enlistment NCO very busy. With requests such as duty assignments in Korea and Hawaii, Kral has been constantly bombarded with questions from the Soldiers and the leadership of the company as well. Reenlistment has definitely been a popular topic within the 233d Trans. Co., over the past few months. Many have been re-enlisting for various reasons, but all seem to be content with their choices. The Soldiers reviewed all the re-enlistment option, and most have taken the opportunity for a lasting military career.
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