JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. ̶ The 404th Army Field Support Brigade conducted a ceremony to mark the merging of two of its units -- the Army Field Support Battalion-Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Logistics Readiness Center-JBLM.
The event was held at the 404th AFSBn Installation Maintenance Division, a section of the former LRC-JBLM, May 17.
The new force structure aligns, both by timing and intent, with the Army's recently implemented Sustainable Readiness Model, which ensures Army readiness through training, personnel and materiel.
With the new alignment, the AFSBn-JBLM is under the command of Lt. Col. Shari Bennett and David Saffold, director of the former LRC-JBLM, is now the deputy to the commander of AFSBn-JBLM.
Prior to this change, both LRC-JBLM and AFSBn-JBLM served as lateral organizations reporting to 404th AFSB.
LRC-JBLM was tasked with maintaining and building JBLM's force projection capabilities, while AFSBn-JBLM was responsible for synchronizing the Army's acquisition, logistics, and technology to units in the western United States.
"This new unit has the same mission -- to continue to provide outstanding installation and readiness support to both the Army and the Air Force," said Col. Peter Crandall, commander, 404th AFSB.
Having one centralized command will result in the following:
- The AFSBn commander has control of the forces necessary to complete the mission and ensure readiness.
- A single commander oversees both organizations and provides a single face to the field for the U.S. Army Materiel Command, resulting in enhanced decision-making and responsiveness, optimized force mobilization time, and greater contract oversight.
- Combined staff sections eliminate redundancy and result in more effective planning, streamlined execution of operations, and better support to the warfighter.
"Installation logistics is, and will remain, our core competency," Crandall said. "I truly believe this merger will improve mission command, planning, and execution in order to support Army readiness, power projection and warfighting."
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