CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) unfurled its colors during an uncasing ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 17, marking the assumption of their mission supporting the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) in the U.S. Central Command area.
The 13th SC(E) from Fort Hood, Texas, led by Brig. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg and Command Sgt. Maj. Terry D. Burton, is providing operational support for the 1st TSC-Operational Command Post, the forward command headquarters of the senior logistics command for the Central Command's area of responsibility.
The 1st TSC-OCP executes operational sustainment support, conducts Coalition/Joint Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement, redeployment, retrograde, and re-posture of forces, materiel, and sustainment infrastructure in order to support ongoing operations throughout the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility.
During the deployment, the 13th SC(E) will augment organic 1st TSC Soldiers, making up an estimated 25 percent of the man-power for the forward deployed command.
"This team, along with our strategic partners in the region, is very critical to the mission at hand with providing logistical and sustainment support to the entire CENTCOM Theater," said Fogg. "We have been training and working together with our 1st TSC counterparts for months, and I am excited for the mission at hand. It is an honor to serve here in Kuwait, the center of gravity for logistics in the region. I'm proud to say that our team is trained and ready to execute this mission."
Maj. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, the commanding general of the 1st TSC out of Fort Bragg, N.C., spoke at the ceremony and applauded the outgoing 1st TSC team, commanded by Brig. Gen. Dan Mitchell, 1st TSC deputy commanding general, and augmented by the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) from Fort Knox, Ky., for their accomplishments during the deployment.
Williams said that under Mitchell's leadership, "The 1st TSC Operational Command Post provided single sustainment mission command for over 11,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Contractors and DoD Civilians, integrating and synchronizing strategic transportation and distribution, supply, maintenance, finance, human resources, material retrograde, disposal, contracting and customs functions, always delivering before the 11th hour."
When the White Team arrived, the mission was fairly stable, Williams continued. The OCP, a team comprised of 1st TSC and 3rd ESC Soldiers, was busy resetting the theater and preparing for the hand off of Operation Resolute Support from Afghanistan.
"Then things became a bit more exciting," said Williams. Iraq became a major focus and the team reacted by assisting with building the initial logistics footprint on the ground in Iraq, assisting with building a coalition, and assisting with the delivery of multiple humanitarian assistance air-drop missions, feeding tens of thousands of displaced citizens, he said.
During their time, Williams said the White team oversaw the movement of more than 10,000 service members and more than 73,000 short tons of cargo throughout the U.S. CENTCOM area of responsibility.
"Be proud of what you have accomplished," he continued. "Share your stories. Tell your families what you helped do here in this historic time. Incorporate them into the fabric of what happened, so they understand their sacrifices were worthwhile."
After sharing his gratitude for the outgoing team, Williams welcomed the 13th SC(E) staff and the new team.
"Speaking of great teams, Brig. Gen. (Rodney) Fogg and Command Sgt. Maj. (Terry) Burton, and the great 13th ESC team from Fort Hood assumes an extremely important mission," he said. "They will serve as the forward deployed headquarters for the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), which is responsible for logistical support in the Central Command area of operations, an area that covers 20 countries in the Middle East."
"This is not a rookie squad," he continued. This great team comes with a proven track record of success. The Army clearly got it right, and we have the right unit, with the right leadership, at the right time, leading the charge. We are indeed very fortunate to have a unit such as the 13th ESC spearheading this next critical phase of operations."
The 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) provides single sustainment mission command to Army, Joint, and Multinational Forces in support of CENTCOM Unified Land Operations in order to enable the Combatant Commander's ability to prevent, shape, and win our nation's wars.
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