CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- The commanding general of U.S. Army Sustainment command visited the 401st Army Field Support Brigade here, Dec. 12-14, to get a closer view of how the brigade operates.
Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, commanding general, ASC, began his first battle field rotation to the 401st AFSB since taking command of ASC July, 2017.
"While we have seven Army Field Support Brigades, there's only one that's in contact with the enemy today and it's the 401st AFSB," Gamble said. "I'm very proud of what this work force has already accomplished, and what they continue to accomplish every day. I'm very impressed"
Gamble led a logistics roundtable discussion with 401st AFSB leadership, toured Army Prepositioned Stocks-5 facilities, and visited Kuwait Naval Base to see the APS-5 watercraft set.
"I like to say, 'let's not be surprised by the perfectly predictable.' It's clear to me that the 401st AFSB isn't getting surprised," Gamble said. "The anticipation and instinct of this brigade is remarkable, whether it's configuring for combat or supporting an uplift, this brigade finds ways to stay ahead of everything."
Gamble emphasized the concept of anticipatory logistics during his discussions with 401st AFSB personnel, repeating the term several times during his logistics roundtable discussion.
"You're solving problems that people don't even know they have yet. That's what anticipatory logistics is all about," Gamble said. "It used to be the 401st AFSB was entirely in Afghanistan, and now it's spread across the whole CENTCOM area of responsibility. Taking all of that on and tackling it with the level of precision and success that this team does, it's very impressive."
The opportunity for Gamble to hold conversations with key logistics leaders here helps everyone involved better achieve readiness, said Col. Carmelia Scott-Skillern, commander, 401st AFSB.
"It allows me to receive direction and intent in the most direct way possible, and it allows me to put forward concerns or ideas that might need to be addressed above my pay grade," Scott-Skillern said. "At the end of the day it puts everyone in a better position to deliver readiness to the warfighter, which is our purpose and primary goal."
The APS-5 warehouse highlighted Gamble's visit because it allowed the brigade and its Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait to show off the newly combat configured Armored Brigade Combat Team equipment set, said Scott-Skillern.
"Configuring for combat is a massive leap in terms of readiness, which is good in this theater and also good for the Army," Scott-Skillern said. "We're getting equipment into the warfighter's hands quicker than ever before and we're saving money at the same time."
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