Strong Europe pushes Armor and Soldiers through the deployment pipeline

By 1st Lt. Mark H. SchneiderJanuary 17, 2017

Strong Europe pushes Armor and Soldiers through the deployment pipeline
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SWIETOSZOW, Poland -- Maj. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, visit with Soldiers from Bravo Co., 1-68 AR, and the 624th Trans Det., 39th MCB. Gamble and Delgado, reviewe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Strong Europe pushes Armor and Soldiers through the deployment pipeline
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP KARLIKI, Poland -- Maj. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, discusses creating infrastructure for the reception, staging, and integration pipeline with Soldiers from the 16th Sustainment Brigade in Poland,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Strong Europe pushes Armor and Soldiers through the deployment pipeline
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP KARLIKI, Poland -- Soldiers from the 106th Financial Management Support Unit, 16th STB, welcome Maj. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, commanding general and Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, to Camp Karliki, Poland, Jan. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ZAGAN, Poland -- Leaders from 21st Theater Sustainment Command visited with Soldiers from the 16th Sustainment Brigade and the first Soldiers in Poland from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Jan.10.

Maj. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, 21st TSC, reviewed the progress of the reception, staging, and onward movement of the armored brigade in Poland as well as the tactical assembly areas established and managed by the 16th Sust. Bde.

"The reception, staging, and onward movement process in Europe is designed not for just one brigade, but for a series of brigades," Gamble said. "We are creating the infrastructure and defining the processes for speed of assembly and the massing of forces."

The 21st TSC tasked the 16th Sust. Bde., with managing the movement of the 3rd ABCT, 4th ID as they arrived to Europe. Soldiers flew to different locations in Poland as their vehicles and equipment were hauled by rail and convoy from Bremerhaven, Germany, after arriving by ship. Planning for these complex movements required precise timing to connect the Soldiers with their M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley fighting vehicles immediately in order to establish a dynamic security presence.

Lt. Col. Brian Ketz, commander, 16th Special Troops Bn., is responsible for operating the tactical assembly areas for the 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. The services provided at the assembly areas allow the Iron Brigade to focus their attention on building combat power for multinational training exercises. Sustainers operating the tactical assembly areas from the 16th Sust. Bde., provide life support facilities, training facilities, and ranges for the Soldiers occupying the areas.

By providing life support activities the 16th Sust. Bde., keeps the Iron Brigade in the rapid deployment pipeline, expediting their speed of assembly in the European theater.

"Setting up the tactical assembly areas was an outstanding experience," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Cool, a motor transport operator, 51st Transportation Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Bn. "Working with our Allies from Poland and establishing this site for Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is a great achievement. We want to make sure that the 3rd ABCT, 4th ID Soldiers are unencumbered so they can hit the ground running when they arrive, and not have to worry about life support activities."

After visiting with Soldiers in the assembly areas, Gamble and Delgado inspected M1 Abrams tanks arriving to the railhead in Swietoszow, Poland and visited Soldiers working in the motor pool.

"This is what it is all about. Tanks in motor pools and Soldiers on tanks working," Delgado said. "A Strong Europe."

Nine-month rotations of armored and aviation brigades are essential to support NATO's shift from assurance to deterrence. With each rotational force coming into Europe, the US Army sharpens its speed of assembly through improved logistical processes.