Deployed Sustainers re-enlist in Haiti

By 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public AffairsMarch 1, 2010

Deployed Sustainers re-enlist in Haiti
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - Nashville, Tenn. native and Joint Logistics Command - Haiti commander Col (Promotable) Robin Akin congratulates Spc. Brandon Bowen, a Dickson Tenn. native, at a re-enlistment ceremony held in Port Au Prince, Haiti Feb. 27. (U... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Deployed Sustainers re-enlist in Haiti
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - Master Sgt. Adam McKinney, Command Career Counselor, Joint Logistics Command - Haiti and Indianapolis, Ind. native leads 19 newly re-enlisted JLC Soldiers in the Army Song Feb 27. The ceremony, the first ever held on-water by ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Deployed Sustainers re-enlist in Haiti
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - Col. (Promotable) Robin Akin issues the oath of enlistment to 19 Soldiers from across Joint Logistics Command - Haiti who took part in the first-ever mass re-enlistment for the 3rd ESC - on water in Port Au Prince Haiti. The ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Deployed Sustainers re-enlist in Haiti
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - Soldiers from Joint Logistics Command - Haiti render honors during the national anthem at a re-enlistment ceremony held Feb. 27, in Port Au Prince, Haiti. The Soldiers who participated in the ceremony held on Army watercraft ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - Joint Logistics Command - Haiti Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Unified Response gathered on U.S. Army vessel LSV 1 to re-enlist Feb. 27.

Nineteen Soldiers from Fort Knox's 3rd Sustainment Command, Fort Eustis's 7th Sustainment Brigade, and Fort Lewis's 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion raised their right hands and recited the oath of enlistment with Col.(Promotable) Robin Akin, the 3d Sustainment Command's commanding general who presided over the event.

"We gather today to remind ourselves that our mission as fighting men and women must continue," Akin said. "And to continue - we must have those that are willing, able, and are inspired to raise their hands again and again to be counted with those that came before them."

Akin drew the re-enlistees' attention to the significance of re-enlisting on this particular deployment.

"Like those fighting for survival here in Haiti - American Soldiers bring the hope of peace, freedom, and a better day. When others turned away, it was our Soldiers who were willing to stand up, be counted and put their lives on the line - yesterday, today and tomorrow," said Akin

At the conclusion of Akin's speech, the formation of service members raised their right hands and swore in - once again.

"It was just an awesome feeling, re-upping with all those guys," said 3d ESC Soldier, Spec. Brandon Bowen, who is from Dickson, Tenn.

The event was designed to honor the commitment of the re-enlistees and was the first ever mass re-enlistment in the 3d Sustainment Command - on water.

"It was pretty cool, the fact that we were on a big ship. The whole thing was enjoyable," added Bowen.

Accumulatively, the Soldiers pledged more than 6 decades of additional service to their country. The Soldiers came from 10 different states and Puerto Rico.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the re-enlistees were treated to a hot steak dinner and cake - a special treat for Soldiers who have been eating MREs since arriving in Haiti about a month ago.

Since switching over to an all-volunteer force in 1973, the armed forces have depended on re-enlistments to retain qualified personnel, which has become more critical in the face of the ongoing operations around the world.

Photos and story by Sgt. 1st Class Dave McClain and Maj. Paul Hayes, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) public affairs. For pictures of the entire ceremony, go to the "Joint Logistics Command - Haiti" Facebook page. For more information on the 3rd ESC and its mission go to: www.army.mil/3rdesc. For queries, contact 3d Sustainment Command Public Affairs at (502) 624-8601. For high-resolution photos and stories by the 3d Sustainment Command, please contact the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System at (678) 421-6612 or access them online at www.dvidshub.net/units/3sce.

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