CAMP HUMPRHEYS, Republic of Korea - "An Army, like a serpent, goes upon its belly," wrote historian Thomas Carlyle, but today's Soldiers need more than a full belly to keep them in fighting shape.
Soldiers assigned to 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division recently conducted a field training exercise simulating a Support Area Command Post equipped with the facilities and staff available during an actual deployment.
"The SACP supports the forward mission from the front to the back edge of the fight," said Sgt. Maj. Tommie L. Jones, a native of Middletown, Ohio, and 2ID/RUCD logistics sergeant major.
The SACP works together with brigade and division staff to oversee communication and transfer of supplies to the front lines.
"SACP focuses on the long-term, 96 hours to two weeks in the fight, so that the commanding general can focus on the short-term," said Jones.
When beginning a mission, logisticians ask themselves and their teams 'who is in charge?', 'what resources are available?', and most importantly, 'can we do what we say we can do?'
"We have to anticipate what they might need, based on historical data," said Jones. "We set it in motion and we track it."
For junior enlisted Soldiers, the exercise contextualized the skills they learned during advanced individual training.
"It helps me understand how an operational environment works," said Pfc. Kelly Sarmento, a native of San Lorenzo, California and intelligence analyst assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2IDSBDE. "I get a sense of the bigger picture and how my job fits in."
If an Army is anything like Carlyle's serpent, it's easy to be distracted by the fangs. However, by continuing to conduct training like the SACP, sustainment personnel can help keep those fangs sharp, bellies full, and keep moving forward.
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