First Team sustainers hold symposium

By Sgt. Garett HernandezDecember 16, 2015

First Team sustainers hold symposium
Col. Christopher Colavita, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, addresses a room of logisticians during a three-day symposium at the Mission Command Training Center at Fort Hood, Texas, Dec. 10. The symposi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - The 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade "Wagonmasters" joined the First Team June 22, and have since provided logistical support to the division, Fort Hood and III Corps.

To maximize support, the brigade held a three-day symposium at the Mission Command Training Center here Dec. 8-10 to share lessons learned, best practices from across the division and to collectively understand the issues and challenges going on.

"This is the first division sustainment symposium, certainly within the last 15 years," said Col. Christopher Colavita, commander, 1st SB, 1st Cav. Div.

The brigade invited guest speakers from Combined Arms Support Command and Human Resources to talk about matters with the Wagonmasters.

They spoke about everything from manufacturing and industrial base, all the way to the fox hole. It's all interconnected, explained Colavita.

"[After] what we've just done, we have a better appreciation for the gaps, seams and the capabilities that the division has with respect to sustainment services," said Colavita.

The brigade also invited the 36th Sustainment Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, 518th Sustainment Brigade and the 90th Sustainment Brigade to attend.

Relationships are very important, explained Colavita. There are new relationships with the new sustainment brigade, but no new doctrine, he added.

"If we know what we can do, that will better scope what we can't do," said Colavita. "Those things that we honestly can't do, we now know how to ask for help."

Not only did the symposium help the brigade as a whole, but also individuals as well. In between the over sessions that addressed the whole unit, Troopers had the opportunity to talk about how their specific jobs play a role in the big picture.

"I think it was a good conference; I think we learned a lot from bringing in all the logisticians together," said Capt. Tammi Summer, commander, 207th Signal Company, 1st SB.