FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to send shock waves across the world, one constant is the 101st Airborne Division (AA) and its continuous effort to answer the call of our wonderful Nation.
The 101st Division Sustainment Brigade “Lifeliners”, 101st Abn. Div. (Air Assault), currently has Soldiers deployed all over the globe to include Iraq, Kuwait, Honduras, and Europe. Sustainment Soldiers also are providing support on the East Coast, assisting with relief efforts to XVIII Airborne Corps’ COVID-19 response.
“Not only do we have Soldiers supporting relief efforts on the East Coast; but also we have Soldiers deployed all over the world from Iraq to Europe,” said Col. Stephanie Barton, commander of 101st Div. Sust. Bde. “For example, our 101st Human Resources Company, who currently is deployed to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, processed more than 15,000 pounds of mail just last week, which was vital in mail delivery to Soldiers, Department of Defense civilians and contractors in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.”
Proper sustainment allows the 101st Abn. Div. (AA) to get equipment ready faster, keep it viable longer, and be more cost-efficient. It plays a large role in the division's overall readiness rate.
“With the current measures emplaced to help slow the spread of COVID-19, we have been very creative to keep our unit readiness up above standard to ensure our units are supplied with the parts and equipment needed to effectively complete their jobs,” said Maj. Sitara Buckner, the executive officer assigned to 101st Div. Sust. Bde. “To cut down on foot traffic in motor pools, work areas and our Sustainment Activity Centers we have developed and implemented what is similar to a swing shift type of work day.
“Soldiers (less than 10 at a time) are required to come in (once) a day to conduct vehicle or weapon maintenance on their assigned equipment; customers are required to pick up parts and supplies daily during approved timeslots; and dining facilities are carry out only for those Soldiers who are required to eat there,” Buckner continued.
“Our units are continuing to conduct physical training daily,” Barton added. “The Army teaches us to hunt the good stuff when facing challenges; and with that being said, having to scale back on numbers of Soldiers conducting physical training in one location at a time has allowed Command Sergeant Major (Kevin) Campbell and me more time to interact with Soldiers daily.
“We are able to get out (of our) office more to talk, laugh, mentor, and workout with all Soldiers from all our different companies,” Barton continued.
The Soldiers are logistics experts and have multiple capabilities, including transportation, contract support and communication assets. The brigade also includes multi-functional
logisticians, who can adapt to a wide variety of missions.
“We support all the units throughout the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell,” said Buckner. “If a unit departs from Fort Campbell or returns to our installation, more than likely the Sustainment Brigade had a part in it.
“We have a lot of pride in our career field,” continued Buckner. “We look at it like this … the Army cannot go rolling along if it doesn’t have wheels, fuel, beans, or bullets; and we provide that.”
As the Lifeliners continue to prepare for their next ‘rendezvous with destiny’, just like their combat arms peers, logistics commanders will need to plan and execute realistic training to prepare their force.
“We currently have units in my formation who are scheduled to deploy in the upcoming months,” said Barton. “As their commander, I must ensure they are ready to go forward and accomplish their assigned mission.
“My team understands the importance of getting our Soldiers on the range to shoot their assigned weapons,” continued Barton. “We must conduct field operations to validate mission command capabilities, and we must ensure our soldiers are medically (and) physically ready to deploy on time.
“The Soldiers have made it a joy, during my time here as their commander,” Barton continued. “They are always ready to assume any and all missions at a moment’s notice and execute that mission with a can do attitude. There’s nothing they cannot accomplish, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”
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