Special Forces Supply earns top Army Logistics honors

By Spc. Amanda BakerOctober 9, 2018

Special Forces Supply earns top Army Logistics honors
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Iyana Purnell, a logistic specialist with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) accepts the Chief of Staff of the Army Supply Excellence Award on behalf of her team from Maj. Gen. E. John Deedrick (right), the 1st Special Forces commanding general... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Special Forces Supply earns top Army Logistics honors
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. E. John Deedrick (left), the 1st Special Forces commanding general, congratulates Spc. Iyana Purnell, a logistic specialist with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) before presenting her team the Chief of Staff of the Army award for supply ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Special Forces Supply earns top Army Logistics honors
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Supply Support Activity team and Maj. Gen. E. John Deedrick (center), the commander of 1st Special Forces Command, pose for a photo with the Chief of Staff of the Army Supply Excellence Award Oct. 8, at Joint B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington - Soldiers of Supply Support Activity, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), stood proudly at the 1st SFG (A) supply warehouse, Oct. 8, as they received the Chief of Staff of the Army Supply Excellence Award from Maj. Gen. E. John Deedrick, Jr., commander of the 1st Special Forces Command.

The Supply Excellence Award, conceived during the 1984 Army Worldwide Supply Conference, is the top Department of the Army award for supply and logistics. The United States Army Quartermaster School researched and developed the program, which recognizes total unit readiness and supply discipline. In 1986, the first on-site evaluations took place. Thirty-two years later, the award program continues to honor the top supply team in the country.

"This is no small achievement," said Deedrick. "You earning this award signifies that you are the best of the best."

Sgt. First Class Arnaldo Almestica, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the SSA, credited his Soldiers, who were the key to their team's success.

"They take pride in their uniforms, their jobs and themselves," said Almestica. "They do the best job possible."

Almestica recognizes that his Soldiers have not only improved the overall quality of their supply system, but also showcase the Special Operation Forces truths.

While the Soldiers embody the first and foremost truth, "Humans are more important than hardware," they also live up to the other four: "Quality is better than Quantity," "Special Operation Forces cannot be mass produced," and finally, "Most Special Operations require non-Special Operation Forces assistance."

Without the 1st SFG (A) SSA, Soldiers would lack the proper equipment to complete their missions, said Deedrick.

"I want to say to each and every one of you that what you do is extremely important and it is extremely valuable," said Deedrick. "It is absolutely tremendous work, and it is my great honor to present to you this award."

Spc. Iyana Purnell, a logistics specialist, was honored to receive the award on behalf of her team, and to have received the award from Deedrick.

"It was pretty amazing receiving this award from a two-star general," said Purnell. "It's an honor knowing we are the best out there."