Spotlight on...Sgt. 1st Class Lascelles Cuff

By Ms Giselle Bodin (ACC)March 7, 2012

Spotlight on...Sgt. 1st Class Lascelles Cuff
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Sgt. 1st Class Lascelles Cuff may not have the contracting background like many of his fellow Expeditionary Contracting Command's Soldiers, but he does posses a Combat Action Badge, something that most of his peers do not.

Cuff, a native of Hartford, Conn., who enlisted in the Army in 1996, is the ECC's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear/training non-commissioned officer.

Cuff, received the CAB during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the initial offensive surge to move across the Iraqi border. The CAB is the non-infantry equivalent to the Combat Infantry Badge which is awarded to infantry Soldiers for engaging or being engaged by the enemy.

Cuff received the award as part of the 3rd Infantry Division. He deployed to Kuwait in 2003 as part of the initial offensive to cross the Iraqi border. At the time, he was the company CBRN NCO/operations center noncommissioned officer in charge and was responsible for collecting and disseminating critical information from the infantry platoons to ensure the commander had a complete situational awareness.

When his unit crossed the border, they came into contact with enemy combatants that were moving through Al Najaf and the Karbala Gap toward Saddam International Airport. At one point, his company lost five Soldiers in less than 24 hours. Also trained as an alternate gunner on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Cuff and another Soldier engaged an enemy that was trying to infiltrate their company assembly area.

"Being awarded the CAB meant a lot to me," said Cuff. "It validated the sacrifice that my unit and I made during Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Though he is not a 51 Charlie contracting NCO, Cuff's experience allows him to work within ECC seamlessly.

At ECC, he is the command's CBRN/ training NCO. He coordinates and tracks the mandatory military and civilian training for both the Army Contracting Command and the ECC headquarters, He also advises the command on CBRN issues such as training and equipment.

"I get to hone my skills as a training coordinator and instructor as a part of a general staff," said Cuff. "Working with the people in ECC only strengthens these abilities ' my experience here will be invaluable as I lead and mentor Soldiers."

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