FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Nov. 30, 2010) - About 40 Soldiers from Fort Knox\'s 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) spent over two weeks in November at Fort Bragg, N.C. running a mission readiness exercise for the 7th Sustainment Brigade.
The 7th Sus. Bde., based at Fort Eustis, Va., is preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. As their higher headquarters, it's the responsibility of the 3d ESC to make sure the unit is ready to fulfill its mission of providing logistical support to American forces in southern and western Afghanistan.
The MRX is primarily a computer-based exercise simulating the tasks the 7th Sus. Bde. and its subordinate units will perform while deployed - everything from monitoring convoys carrying supplies to ensuring their Soldiers' personal and professional needs are met.
"The most important thing the Soldiers of the 7th Sustainment Brigade learned was that battlefield information needs to be shared and thoroughly evaluated to develop the most effective solutions to complex operational issues," said 7th Sus. Bde. commander and Patterson, N.J. native, Col. Lawrence Kominiak.
Spc. Krista Payne, a public affairs Soldier and Beaver, Pa. native, agreed.
"I got to see what the public affairs office will be like down range in comparison to garrison and it helped me bond with my team member and everyone in my staff," said Payne.
The MRX also included scenarios inserted into the training daily to simulate problems the 7th Sus. Bde. and its subordinates could encounter on their deployment to test how their staffs would react and help them learn from any mistakes they might make.
"The MRX/CTE was highly successful and the brigade met all of its training objectives," said Kominiak.
That opinion was shared by the 3d ESC leaders evaluating the 7th Sus. Bde.
"We have a lot of motivated Soldiers in the 7th Sustainment Brigade. I think they are ready and prepared for their mission," said MRX operations manager and Atlanta, Ga. native Lt. Col. Demetrius Price.
During the MRX, the 3d ESC received support from the Battle Command Training Program's Operations Group Sierra from Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and contractors gathered from around the country. A total of 20 Servicemembers and over 50 civilians joined the 3d ESC Soldiers to run the exercise and evaluate the units preparing to deploy.
The 3d ESC will be back at Fort Bragg in February to validate the 6th Transportation Battalion's readiness before their upcoming deployment to Kuwait.
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Dave McClain, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) public affairs. Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Dave McClain, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) public affairs and Spc. Krista Payne, 7th Sustainment Brigade public affairs. 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 http://www.dvidshub.net/units/3sce
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