CAMP AGUINALDO, Philippines -- It's said that in military operations the line between disorder and order lies in logistics.
If that's true, credit members of the 45th Sustainment Brigade and 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, provided logistical support for the Balikatan 2011 exercise held April 5-15, and helped ensure things stayed on track.
In all, the 45th SB staff successfully provided logistics for all aspects of the exercise without limiting units' capabilities to train in the field with their Filipino counterparts. The logistics headquarters has gotten the job done even though its participation in Balikatan 2011 was not part of the original plan.
When the earthquake and tsunami disaster happened in Japan, the 10th Support Group, the unit pegged for Balikatan, was called back to Japan to help with logistical support there. The 10th ASG is based in Okinawa, Japan, and is part of the 8th TSC.
Personnel from the 45th Sustainment Brigade were then given the mission to help with the Balikatan Exercise. Within a week of receiving orders for Balikatan 2011, members of the 45th SB had arrived and quickly assumed their command post.
"We were excited to be a part of Balikatan 2011, and we did not mind the short notice because we were excited to come to the Philippines," said Spc. Javan Mortimer, chaplain assistant with 45th SB.
Taking on the mission called for detailed planning as the exercise takes part in several different areas of the country. Their goal was to provide the best support to servicemembers in the field.
For Maj. Ceasar Bergonia, 8th TSC deputy G6, providing consistent communication to remote field sites was a daunting task.
"I have five sites that I maintain, and to send someone out there for a trouble call, sometimes movement can be difficult, especially when we have to have security elements with them," said Bergonia.
Bergonia credits his team with taking on any task -- even if it required them travelling four or five hours. He said, they get the job done, because they understand the importance of communication here.
It was the job of Sgt. 1st Class Sterling Tracy, noncommissioned officer in charge of support operations for 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 45th SB, to ensure the Joint Operations Center had everything it needed to function.
"With the 45th Sustainment Brigade filling in for the 10th SG, we had to do some changes in order to get things the way we needed them," said Tracy. "We had to be creative with how we got some of our supplies, but the bottom line is that we got what we needed and helped to support the exercise."
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