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US Army Sustainment Soldiers achieve mission success during Operation Provider Caravan

By Sgt. 1st Class Mary KatzenbergerJanuary 21, 2022

Operation Provider Caravan
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A convoy of vehicles assigned to the 24th Composite Truck Company out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, travel north through Saudi Arabia Dec. 21, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 24th CTC Soldiers drove more than 2,300 miles round trip through the course of the operation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to the 24th Composite Truck Company out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, participate in a convoy brief at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 24, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 24th CTC Soldiers drove more than 2,300 miles round trip through the course of the operation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army convoy of up-armored M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporters arrives at the Nuwaieeb border crossing preparing to cross into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Provider Caravan, Dec. 16, 2021. The HETs were driven across the country for Operation Provider Caravan, a multilateral logistics operation that demonstrated U.S. Army Central’s ability to exercise the Trans-Arabian Network in coordination with our host nation partners within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U. S. Army photo by Sgt. Elorina Santos, 3DSB Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Elorina Santos) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Derek Atwaters Sr., support operations officer in charge, 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, and Abdulaziz Albatni, the supervisor for Kuwait Customs, check and verify the list of equipment crossing the border into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Nuwaieeb border crossing, Kuwait, Dec. 16, 2021. Operation Provider Caravan was a multilateral logistics operation that demonstrated U.S. Army Central’s ability to exercise the Trans-Arabian Network in coordination with our host nation partners within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U. S. Army photo by Sgt. Elorina Santos, 3DSB Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Elorina Santos) VIEW ORIGINAL

KING FAHAD INDUSTRIAL PORT YANBU, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Army motor transport operators from the 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade departed Saudi Arabia on Dec. 20, embarking on an almost 1,200-mile trip to their home base in Kuwait.

Driving up-armored M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporters laden with M1A2 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, the Soldiers of the Fort Riley, Kansas, based 24th Composite Truck Company traveled through the heart of Saudi Arabia and the international border with Kuwait to Camp Buehring.

And that was only the second leg of the mission.

The HETs departed Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 14, 2021, and returned to Camp Buehring Dec. 26, 2021, completing Operation Provider Caravan.

The 12-day mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed.

Operation Provider Caravan
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 24th Composite Truck Company (Heavy), 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, ground guide up-armored M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporters out of the motor pool at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 16, 2021. The HETs were driven across the country in support of Operation Provider Caravan, a multilateral logistics operation that demonstrated U.S. Army Central’s ability to exercise the Trans-Arabian Network in coordination with our host nation partners within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U. S. Army photo by Sgt. Elorina Santos, 3DSB Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Elorina Santos) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to Task Force Spartan move an M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle at the King Fahad Industrial Port Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 19, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central Command, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed.

The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger)
VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier assigned to the 24th Composite Truck Company out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, ground guides an M1A2 Abrams tank onto an M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter Dec. 19, 2021 at King Fahad Industrial Port Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces block a lane of traffic so that Soldiers assigned to the 24th Composite Truck Company (Heavy) out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, can recover an up-armored M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter in Saudi Arabia Dec. 16, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 24th CTC Soldiers drove more than 2,300 miles round trip through the course of the operation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A member of the Royal Saudi Land Forces interacts with the command team of the 24th Composite Truck Company (Heavy) during port operations at the King Fahad Industrial Port Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 19, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. Operation Provider Caravan was a multilateral logistics operation that demonstrated U.S. Army Central’s ability to exercise the Trans-Arabian Network in coordination with our host nation partners within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. (U. S. Army photo by Sgt. Elorina Santos, 3DSB Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Elorina Santos) VIEW ORIGINAL

The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

“Operation Provider Caravan is our opportunity in the 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade and our supporting units to be able to exercise the Trans-Arabian network and link up with our partners across Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to make sure that we have a logistical capability if needed,” said Col. David Key, commander of the 3rd DSB.

Key said the Soldiers with the 24th CTC performed magnificently from the preparation through the execution phase of the operation.

“HET drivers do nothing better than operate HETs and make things happen,” he said. “I’m super proud of all of them and the effort that they have put forth.”

The 24th CTC brought organic maintenance personnel and recovery vehicles and relied on Soldiers assigned to the 548th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion to provide fuel and Soldiers from 3rd Medical Command to provide medical care.

Operation Provider Caravan
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 24th Composite Truck Company and Task Force Spartan work together to change tires on an M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter semi-trailer in Saudi Arabia Dec. 24, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Leaders with the 24th Composite Truck Company out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, go over customs paperwork at the border of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Dec. 25, 2021 during Operation Provider Caravan. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 24th CTC Soldiers drove more than 2,300 miles round trip through the course of the operation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A member of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces guards the perimeter of a bed down site for a U.S. convoy in Saudi Arabia Dec. 18, 2021. The mission, executed by elements of 1st Theater Sustainment Command and Task Force Spartan on behalf of U.S. Army Central, was a multilateral logistics operation that exercised some of the logistics capabilities within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to ensure U.S. and partner forces have the resources and flexibility to deliver supplies and materiel wherever needed. The operation enhanced relationships and partner capacity with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Soldiers assigned to the 24th Composite Truck Company out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, drove more than 2,300 miles round trip through the course of the operation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary S. Katzenberger) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger) VIEW ORIGINAL
Operation Provider Caravan
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. David Key, brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Major Denice Malave, senior enlisted advisor, 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, watch their Soldiers and vehicles begin their convoy from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Provider Caravan, Dec. 16, 2021. Operation Provider Caravan was a multilateral logistics operation that demonstrated U.S. Army Central’s ability to exercise the Trans-Arabian Network in coordination with our host nation partners within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U. S. Army photo by Sgt. Elorina Santos, 3DSB Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Elorina Santos) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lt. Col. Joel Buffardi, commander of the 389th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, said performing a mission on the scale of Operation Provider Caravan can be challenging; however, the team achieved mission success by forging strong partnerships.

“The Soldiers faced many challenges during this operation, traveling across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the Buffardi said. “The Soldiers, with the other part of their team — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia security forces as well as the Kuwait forces — have exercised and participated superbly.”

Key echoed Buffardi’s sentiments.

“Our Saudi partners have been fantastic, truly supportive across the board,” the colonel said. “From the second that we rolled across the border from Kuwait into Saudi Arabia they linked up with us.”

“They’ve been with us every step of the way as we moved across the Trans-Arabian network,” Key continued. “They have made some improvements in the routes that we did not know were there, and they’ve been able to stop traffic and make sure that we had the fastest way possible to complete our operation.”