Commanding general visits ASC units in Kuwait

By Sgt. William Taylor, 402nd AFSB Public AffairsDecember 29, 2014

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1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Robert A. Dawson, the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade commander, explains the process of preparing Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for issue to Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell, commanding general, Army Sustainment Command, during his visi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell, commanding general, Army Sustainment Command, returns to Patton Army Airfield after an aerial tour of the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade's footprint during a visit at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 18. (Photo by Sgt. Willi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Earl B. Schonberg Jr., Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait commander, explains the Army care of supplies in storage process for M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks to Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell, commanding general, Army Sustainment Command, duri... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell, commanding general, Army Sustainment Command, leads a discussion with Cpt. Beatrice Elam, Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait supply operations officer-in-charge, during a Lot 30 container briefing at Camp Arifjan, Kuwai... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Earl B. Schonberg Jr., Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait commander, and Sgt. 1st Class Alicia Lyons, Power House noncommissioned officer-in-charge, guides Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell, commanding general, Army Sustainment Command, through ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, visited Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to observe 402nd Army Field Support Brigade and the Army Prepositioned Stocks-5, Dec. 17-18.

O'Connell's visit was a unique chance to see both 402nd and 401st AFSB operations as the 401st AFSB transitions here following the operational drawdown from Afghanistan.

O'Connell's visit started with an operations briefing with the 402nd AFSB's key leaders. Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Staten, 402nd AFSB Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, started the briefing by emphasizing Sexual Harassment / Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) remains the brigade's number one priority.

"The slogan for the 402nd AFSB's SHARP program is 'Not in our Footprint,'" said Staten, as the 402nd AFSB maintains the largest unit footprint here.

"I appreciate the energy that is put into the SHARP program," said O'Connell. "As SHARP remains the Army's number one priority, we have to engage this effort with full force."

Col. Robert Dawson, commander, 402nd AFSB, explained that the 402nd AFSB is one of the most unique organizations in the Army.

"The 402nd AFSB is constantly rotating veteran Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians in and out of the area of responsibility to ensure qualified experts are available for mission success," said Dawson. "We take the Army Sustainment Command's priorities and synchronize them with the capabilities we have based off the needs of the warfighter. Through our retrograde process, foreign military sales and sustainment of APS-5 capabilities, we meet the needs of the Army throughout the U.S. Central Command area of operations and beyond."

Afterward, O'Connell met with key leaders from U.S. Army Central, then attended a luncheon with the 402nd AFSB and Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait command teams and staff leads. There, O'Connell reminded the command teams and staff of how their commitment to duty does not go unnoticed.

"I appreciate what you are doing here at the 402nd (AFSB)," said O'Connell. "I know you are sacrificing time away from your families during this holiday season, but I thank you for your hard work and remember your Army family is always here to support you."

O'Connell received a tour of the AFSBn-KU APS-5 warehouses and lots, including the off-post storage facility known as the Power House and an aerial tour of Camp Arifjan, to get a visual understanding of how the 402nd AFSB conducts the care of supplies in storage program.

"What the 402nd (AFSB) is able to do with the personnel they have is remarkable," said O'Connell. "The importance of maintaining the readiness of APS-5 for the Army's capabilities cannot be overstated."

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