In late November 2014, the 247th Composite Supply Company (CSC), 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), and the 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade were notified of their deployment to Kuwait to provide logistics support. This support would include class I (subsistence), class III (petroleum, oils, and lubricants), class V (ammunition), and supply support activity operations.
In the three months between notification and deployment, all three platoons received new platoon leaders and the company received a new executive officer and commander. Despite these leadership changes and the 5-degree weather at Fort Carson, Colorado, the 247th CSC completed all inventories and conducted the line-haul and railhead operations necessary to deploy its equipment and personnel to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, where it was attached to the sustainment brigade's 541st CSSB.
The 247th CSC immediately began fulfilling duties and responsibilities in six different locations throughout Kuwait and Iraq. It was also tasked to build two logistics task forces in preparation for forward movement into Iraq in support of a counterattack operation in Mosul. By the end of June, the two task forces were formed and all personnel and equipment were in place.
PREPARING FOR THE FIGHT
The 247th CSC began to fill its training calendar with related practical training and educational opportunities to ensure combat readiness and Soldier development. In one such training opportunity, the 247th CSC supported the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during a combined arms, live-fire exercise, dubbed Operation Provider Support.
During this two-week exercise, 247th CSC Soldiers purified water for cooking and drinking and delivered bulk and bottled water, perishable and frozen foods, meals ready-to-eat, ice, and fuel to 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team units.
The 247th CSC, with help from its sister companies from the 541st CSSB, delivered more than 40 pallets of ice, 79 pallets of perishable frozen and dry food, 42 pallets of bottled water, and 10,400 gallons of bulk water. Petroleum supply specialists conducted bulk transfers of fuel totaling more than 30,600 gallons. As a result of this solid support, the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team successfully conducted a safe and effective training exercise.
WATER PURIFICATION
One of the 247th CSC's many tasks during Operation Provider Support was to purify water. The water purification specialists from the fuel and water platoon set the tone on the first day of operations by rapidly deploying the tactical water purification system, which can produce up to 1,500 gallons of potable water every hour.
The platoon faced the challenge of not having a direct source at Camp Buehring from which to draw and purify water. The Soldiers devised a plan to fill the 2,500-gallon water tank ranks with non-potable water from the bulk water point and continually circulate that water into the tactical water purification system. The water purification specialists' innovation ensured the 247th CSC could provide the more than 20,000 gallons of purified water needed to support the operation.
SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK
With its daily water purification operations and logistics supply convoy duties, the fuel and water platoons would have been stretched thin without the assistance of Soldiers from the supply support activity operations.
Every night, automated logistical specialists ensured all pallets were properly loaded and secured onto the trucks. They then transported the assets from the class I yard and staged the vehicles for the next mission.
This assistance allowed the fuel and water platoon Soldiers to arrive at the motor pool with their trucks already loaded and prepped for the mission. This ensured drivers and truck commanders had time to rest.
The maintenance platoon ensured the success of 247th CSC by inspecting, troubleshooting, and repairing vehicles and equipment. Maintenance support personnel were on standby during all hours of the operation. Soldiers worked tirelessly throughout the exercise to maintain equipment and ensure it was fully mission capable.
The intense and meticulous exercise helped the 247th CSC to perform at a higher level and in areas outside the scope of a CSC. The CSC not only provided organic, essential services; it also performed the operations of a forward support company's distribution platoon.
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1st Lt. Emily A. Domeyer is the fuel and water platoon leader with 247th Composite Supply Company (CSC) at Fort Carson, Colorado. She holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Pepperdine University. She is a graduate of the Ordnance Basic Officer Leader Course.
2nd Lt. Trevor Kinkade is the supply support activity platoon leader with the 247th CSC. He holds a bachelor's degree in business communication from Arizona State University, and he is a graduate of the Quartermaster Basic Officer Leader Course.
1st Lt. Allen Sze is the executive officer with the 247th CSC. He holds a bachelor's degree in justice studies from San Jose State University, and he is a graduate of Transportation Basic Officer Leader Course.
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