KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Soldiers of the Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, based 45th Sustainment Brigade took the mission of the CENTCOM Materiel Recovery Element from the Fort Bragg, N.C., based 82nd Sust. Bde. during a transfer of authority ceremony June 2.
The CMRE mission focuses on the recovery of military equipment to the U.S. from Afghanistan. The 45th Sust. Bde. CMRE assumed the mission to sort, track and recover all equipment from an operational area roughly the size of the state of Texas.
"What you are all doing here will not only be captured in history books, but more importantly in Army doctrine for future operations in the years to come," said Brig. Gen. Donnie Walker Jr., commanding general, 1st Theater Support Command (Forward)/3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, during the ceremony.
According to Walker, the 82nd Sust. Bde. persevered through many logistical challenges to complete their leg of the CMRE mission including unimproved roads, winter storms, monsoons, flash floods and mountainous terrain. He also said the 82nd Sust. Bde. returned $1.2 billion back into the Army inventory and transitioned $16 million worth of military equipment and supplies to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan during their tour. They leave the final chapter of the CMRE mission in the hands of the 45th Sust. Bde. CMRE.
"The fact that you were able to successfully progress the CMRE mission and set the stage for the 45th Sustainment Brigade speaks volumes to your leadership," Walker said to the Soldiers and leaders of the 82nd Sust. Bde.
Walker lauded the 45th Sust. Brigade's storied combat history and its reputation as an outstanding unit.
"You come to us with an outstanding reputation and much combat experience. You are going to be the last sustainment brigade with the CMRE mission and that's powerful," said Walker. "You should be proud of it."
The Lightning Support Soldiers of the 45th Sust. Bde. spent more than a week working directly with their 82nd Sust. Bde. counterparts, learning their operating procedures, daily battle rhythms, and all the little details and nuances needed to continue the mission.
"I work with two different people on a regular basis for my job," said Sgt. Joshua Perez, a medic and noncommissioned officer in charge of the 45th Sust. Bde. surgeon cell. "The 82nd has a system of doing things that we had to familiarize with."
The transition included daily updates, recording points of contact for different agencies and organizations, coordinating equipment tracking systems, and adjusting to the operational climate in Afghanistan.
"The challenge for everyone is taking what we have learned about CMRE from January through April and applying it to what's on the ground now through May and June," said Maj. Joel Huft, a logistics staff officer in the 45th Sust. Bde. S-4.
The CMRE mission is a first for both units, who traditionally provide sustainment for combat operations downrange.
"Any operation like this is very fluid and dynamic and things change," said Huft. "Familiarizing ourselves with what has changed, getting used to a new battle rhythm, learning personalities; it's all important for this transition to run smoothly."
Through a lot of adjustment and transition, the hard work of 82nd Sust. Bde. and 45th Sust. Bde. Soldiers will allow the CMRE mission set to continue seamlessly under the Lightning Support brigade.
"The 82nd Sustainment Brigade has excelled with its wartime mission and we will have to work tirelessly to keep up with the reputation you have built across Afghanistan," said Col. Gregory Boyd, commander of the 45th Sust. Bde.
He concluded his speech with encouraging words for his Soldiers.
"It's no small task to execute a mission across an area close to the size of Texas, but I have no doubt the 45th CMRE will perform with excellence."
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