4th Battalion, 401st AFSB changes commanders in Afghanistan

By Sgt. Gregory Williams, 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public AffairsJuly 19, 2012

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Stanley Sliwinski Jr., incoming commander, 4th Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade (middle) awaits the passing of the colors at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on July 16. Supporting this time-honored tradition is Col. Michel Russell... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French (left), commander, Joint Sustainment Command " Afghanistan/commanding general, 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and Soldiers salute during the playing of the National Anthem at Kandahar Airfield on July 16. The ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Errol White, senior enlisted leader of the 4th Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade presents a plaque to Lt. Col. Garry Bush, outgoing battalion commander, on July 13 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
(Photo by Sgt. Gregory... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Garry Bush, outgoing commander of the 4th Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, talks with Soldiers at his farewell dinner at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan on July 13. More than 200 Soldiers and contractors attended the dinner to hon... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- More than 200 service members and contractors attended the 4th Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade change of command ceremony July 16.

During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Garry Bush relinquished command to Lt. Col. Stanley Sliwinski Jr. leaving behind a legacy of hard work and dedication for his Soldiers.

"Lieutenant Colonel Bush just gave his noncommissioned officers the reigns and let us do our job, which was very refreshing," Sgt. 1st Class Ruben Edwards, the Forward Operating Base Leatherneck noncommissioned-in-charge of battalion operations said. "Our group overcame a lot of challenges working alongside Marines because we were effective under Lieutenant Colonel Bush's command."

Under Bush's command, the battalion completed the "Lindsey 300" mission to issue M1151 Humvees to the Afghan National Army, completed the Cougar Return Program returning 117 Cougar Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to the Marine Corps and sustained an operational readiness rate of 90 percent for all supported units across the South and Southwest regional commands.

Command Sgt. Maj. Errol White, the battalion's senior enlisted leader, said that Bush was not only a great role model, but someone who knew his job and how to make the mission successful.

"Lieutenant Colonel Bush has such a vast knowledge of the retrograde and theater provided equipment process, which made him a great source of information for any assistance with sustainment and retrograde missions," White said. "He always shared his vision with the command and always made himself available to answer any questions."

For Sliwinski, expectations are high as he takes charge of a battalion that started and completed 42 construction projects worth more than $4.7 million.

"[Lieutenant Colonel] Bush gave us the reigns so hopefully the new commander will let his Soldiers figure out what needs to happen to improve the mission," Edwards said.

"There was a time when our group on [Camp] Leatherneck would go 'daggers and knives from 60 feet' and no one ever walked alone on the FOB. As long as the new commander continues to build better relationships with the contractors and Marines, he'll be fine."

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