FORT KNOX, Ky. –Soldiers assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command gathered for a deployment ceremony at the Sadowski Center Nov. 22, hosted by Col. Timothy M. Gallagher, chief of staff, 1st Theater Sustainment Command.
The Blue Team, as the 1st TSC Forward deploying Soldiers are referred to, their families, friends, and other 1st TSC team members assembled to say good-bye, as they prepared to travel to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where they will relieve the White Team, who will be returning home soon. Designated Red, White, and Blue Teams, comprised of Soldiers from the 1st TSC, continuously complete 6-month deployment rotations.
“This team, and the specialized skill sets that each of its members were chosen for, will serve as the connective tissue between our current operations and the future needs of our Warfighters on the battlefield,” Gallagher said.
They are trained human resource specialists, automated logistics specialists, petroleum, communication, and legal specialists – just to name a few.
As part of their ongoing mission, these Soldiers augment the 1st TSC Main Command Post’s constant forward presence, always ready to respond to contingencies and set the conditions for successful sustainment operations across the USCENTCOM AOR.
“Additionally, during periods of transition, they remain the continuity for the rotational Expeditionary Sustainment Commands supporting the 1st TSC and U.S. Army Central, helping to accelerate shared understanding and reduce the risk to the mission,” Gallagher added.
They prepared for their mission with months of training, which included dozens of classroom and individual readiness training exercises to include marksmanship, medical, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense, and a whole host of other preparatory tasks.
Pfc. Caitlin James, human resources specialist, 1st TSC, said, “I’m excited to go and experience new things. I also look forward to financial independence and [hopefully] purchasing my first car when I return.”
This is the first deployment for James and several others.
Spc. Zachary Stanton, information technology specialist, 1st TSC, was thrilled to have several family members present at the ceremony as he begins his first deployment.
“My brother, Cpl. Steven Stanton, came from Fort Hood, Texas to attend today and my mom is here too,” Stanton said.
“We are part of an all-Army family, but it’s still hard letting your son go,” mother, Sonja Stanton, said.
“While deployed I am going to work toward my college degree, work on my certificates – like Security +, save money, and work out to get bigger,” Stanton said.
The deploying team plans on a Spring 2023 return to Fort Knox and their families.
Gallagher emphasized to the deploying Soldiers and family members that they can always rely on the 1st TSC for assistance – day or night – and that “we will always be standing by to support you and help with any needs that arise.”
“Reach out to us here if you need anything at all and please do not leave the ceremony today without knowing who to call if needed,” he added.
The 1st TSC provides sustainment mission command and executes anticipatory operational-level sustainment support to Army, Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Forces; sets the theater; and conducts theater security cooperation within the USCENTCOM AOR in order to enable unified land operations in support of Combatant Command directives.
They provide sustainment to USCENTCOM and USARCENT for all U.S. Army forces in the USCENTCOM AOR, to include Combined Joint Task Force – Iraq, and Task Force Sinai in Egypt. The 1st TSC also coordinates with USARCENT to produce military plans, improve relationships and interoperability with partner nations through exercises, and facilitate the seamless transition of joint forces in and out of the theater.
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