1st theater sustainment command - dec - black jack express
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Bi-monthly Magazine for the U.S. Army - 1st Theater Sustainment Command (Afghanistan). Read all about what the 1st Theater Sustainment Command is accomplishing in Afghanistan. Download and read your copy of the 1st TSC Black Jack Express today!TRANSCRIPT
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
DECEMBER 2013// ISSUE 001 S us t ai nm e nt / Re de pl oym e nt / Re t r o gr ade
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d
FEATURES FEATURES
8 — 1230th TC Practice makes Perfect!
11 — 101st SB COMBAT CASH
15 — 82nd SB Setting Daily Goals
Have you checked out
the latest edition of
Army Sustainment magazine
featuring the 1st TSC
See more — inside Front Cover
Ex
pe
dit
io
na
ry
3 — 1st TSC 1st TSC Mission Summary
5 — 82nd CMRE CENTCOM— Materiel
Recovery Element
6 — 330th JMCB Task Force Dragon’s HearT
17 — 809th Liaison Det. Petroleum
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
Black jack express
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d
ATTENTION: Congratulations to CSM Tobin. . . Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Department of the
Army has selected our
Command Sergeant Major,
CSM Charles M. Tobin, as
the Command Sergeant
Major of the 8th Theater
Sustainment Command. This
is great news for CSM Tobin
- another golden opportunity
for him to serve Soldiers in
this great Army of ours.
The departure date is still
being negotiated - thinking it
will be some-time in March.
Having said that - don't
worry. The Army always gets
it right. They take away one
tremendous leader and
Issue 1
DEC 2013
7 Photos from the
Front
11 A Day in the Life
Photo Page
replace them with another
outstanding individual.
Although that individual
has yet to be identified - I
assure you, he or she will
be good.
Bottom line - we have a
tremendous organization
Congratulations CSM — Page 2
Black Jack Express — Is an authorized publication for members of the
Department of the Defense. Contents of the Black Jack Express magazine are
not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or
the Department of the Army. The editorial content of this publication is the
responsibility of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs Officer.
This publication is a digital publication and will not be reproduced or printed.
The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supple-
ments, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services
advertised by the U.S. Army. Everything advertised in this publication will be
made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political
affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.
If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is
confirmed, the publisher will refuse to print advertising from that source until
the violation is corrected.
Command Commanding General
Maj. Gen. Kurt J. Stein
Command Sergeant Major
Sgt. Maj. Charles M. Tobin
Deputy Commanding General
Brig. Gen. Duane E. Gamble
Afghanistan Sergeant Major
Sgt. Maj. James M. Lambert
Public Affairs Officer
Lt. Col. Roderick Cunningham
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Maj. Thomas Campbell
Public Affairs Sergeant Major
Sgt. Maj. David Rhodes
Public Affairs Operations NCO
Sgt. 1st Class Jessika Greendeer
Public Affairs NCOIC-Afghanistan
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn
Combat Documentation/Production NCO
Sgt. Amanda Moncada
Public Affairs Photojournalist
Spc. Aaron Ellerman
Public Affairs Specialist
Stephenie Tatum
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FRONT COVER
“Army Sustainment -
Magazine” Have you checked out the
latest edition of “Army
Sustainment” magazine
featuring the 1st TSC and
its downtrace units?
Cover: CMRE & p. 22-25
p. 2-3: Shaping future
of Sustainment
(photo p.3)
p. 4-5: Story by
BG Shapiro
p. 26-31: 101s...TSC
story by COL Hamilton
p. 36-37: 1st TSC
story
1
http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/1TSCPA
https://www.facebook.com/1stTheaterSustainmentCommand
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
T his time of year is a great
season of hope, joy and
promise. It is a time when
we gather with our Families and
friends to share the many gifts of
our talents, to reflect on our
many accomplishments
and to dream of
a better and
More peaceful
world. As this
season descends
upon us, my
thoughts are with
the Soldiers of the
1st TSC, steadfastly
working their many
sustainment and retrograde
missions across the globe
from Bragg, to Kuwait and
Afghanistan. I am deeply proud
and grateful to them for their
commitment, courage and candor.
Their hard work contributes to
safeguarding our nation and our
freedoms — truly an enduring
gift to the American people.
Throughout our history, it has been
the way of the American Soldier to
be on point in some lonely locale at
this time of year, whether it be
Valley Forge or Kabul, defending
the cause and dream of freedom. It
is this sacrifice that has tempered
our resolve, but at the same time,
has instilled in us an intense love
of Family and home. This holiday
season is entirely appropriate
for us to unite and
bind together
as Americans, as
Soldiers and as
a n A r m y i n
order to honor
our fallen and
their Families,
to wish each
other well, and to
be thankful for all
that we have.
All the best to you and your
Families in the days ahead.
Happy Holidays!
-- Maj. Gen. Kurt and Debbie Stein
Happy Holidays, First Team!
here in the 1st TSC. Although
we are losing a great leader,
in fact the very best CSM
I have served with in 37 years
of service - we will be OK.
Why? Because this command
is truly blessed with some of
the very best Soldiers, NCO's,
Officers and Civilians in our
Army. In fact, the 1st TSC
has a tremendous reputation
supporting an Army at war.
I challenge all of you to
remain focused, stay positive,
continue to take care of each
other - and keep up the good
work. You are clearly making
a difference.
I am proud of each and every
one of you! Respectfully,
- Maj. Gen. Kurt Stein 1st Theater Sustainment
Command Commanding General
Maj. Gen. Kurt J. Stein
Congratulations CSM — From Page 1
First Team, Army Strong!
Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin
First Team,
I want to say it is an honor
and privilege to represent
our service members and
their families. Behind our brave
service men and women, there are
family members and loved ones who
share in their sacrifice and provide
unending support.
There are so many things that make
us thankful and appreciative for
our military Family. Resilience and long
-standing devotion are two traits that
I appreciate.
This holiday season, Families all
across America will gather with friends
and neighbors to rekindle relation-
ships, honor holiday traditions and
renew the hope and spirit that is part
of this special time of year. During
these gatherings, I ask everyone to
be thankful for a wonderful year of
achievement, tireless execution of
missions too numerous to mention,
and hopes for continued success,
health and happiness in the new year.
While the holiday season is a happy
time, it can also be a stressful time
for many in our command, and in our
Families. I ask leaders to be especially
mindful of those going through difficult
times, and/or separated from loved
ones -- especially our deployed service
members and their Families. Consider
opening your homes to single Soldiers
and those geographically separated
from their Famil ies, while
reinv igorat ing your
Buddy systems. Everyone
should have an assigned
buddy, and no one
should be alone during
this time of year.
I would like to person-
ally wish each of you
a joyous holiday season,
and ask everyone to safely
return to duty, ready for
another exciting year in 2014.
2
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
Mission Statement: 1st TSC plans, prepares and executes operational sustainment
support; conducts Coalition/ Joint Reception, Staging and Onward Movement redeploy-
ment, and re-posture of forces and sustainment in order to support operations throughout
the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility.
The 1st TSC is an Army two-star command based at Fort Bragg, N.C. with two forward headquarters
at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and Kabul, Afghanistan. Made up of nearly 20,000 military, civilian, and
contractor personnel, the 1st TSC and its subordinate units ensure fighting men and women have the
supplies and transportation capabilities they need to accomplish their missions. A global sustainment
provider, the 1st TSC supplies food, fuel, water, transportation, ammunition, building materials and
repair parts. Additionally, the 1st TSC manages the ports, flights, and customs points needed to keep
people and equipment moving 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The 1st TSC also provides adjunct support in the areas of financial management, human resources,
humanitarian aid distribution, host-nation engagements, and medical care for troops and civilians within
the command. Soldiers with the 1st TSC are in the fight every day, moving what is needed throughout
the 20 countries in U.S. Army Central Command’s area of operations, more than 6 million square miles.
First Team!
1st Theater Sustainment Command Mission Summary
https://www.facebook.com/1stTheaterSustainmentCommand?ref=hl
http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/1TSCPA
3
101ST SB 15TH SB CMRE 82ND SB 401ST afsb 330TH jmcb 4TH esc
1ST tsc
End State: 1st TSC is postured to support Unified Land Operations throughout
CENTCOM.
Tailored sustainment structure and Third Army Partner Nations engagement
to support future operations.
Balanced team with resilient Soldiers, civilians, Family members.
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
4
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
CENTCOM
director of logistics
visits 82nd SB-CMRE
W hile conducting battlefield circulation,
Stamps, Ark. native, Maj. Gen. Aundre F.
Piggee, director of logistics for U.S.
Central Command speaks to Soldiers, attached to the
82nd Sustainment Brigade - CENTCOM Materiel Re-
covery Element, about their work doing retro-sort op-
erations at a retro-sort yard on Kandahar Airfield, Af-
ghanistan Nov. 3.
The 82nd Sustainment
Brigade -
U.S. Central Command
Materiel Recovery
Element — conducts
synchronized retrograde
in direct support of
regional commands to
facilitate theater base
closures/transfers and
conduct recovery, redis-
tribution, retrograde and
disposal (R3D) through-
out the CJOA-A in order to
execute the responsible
redeployment of forces
from Afghanistan.
82nd SB - U.S. CMRE is
postured to support R3D
through the CJOA-A to
enable theater transition
to long term stability in
accordance with velocity
goals. The 82SB-CMRE
provides single mission
command to the 1103rd
Combat Sustainment
Support Battalion,
the 489th Engineer
Battalion, the 133rd
Engineer Battalion and
other designated CMRE
forces for retrograde
operations through
entrepreneurial leaders
prepared to support
future and contingency
missions that set the
conditions to achieve
post 2014 operational
requirements while
fostering a balanced
team.
The 82nd SB
CMRE
https://www.facebook.com/82nd-Sustainment-Brigade
http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/82SB
5
(U.S. Army photo(s) by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp, 82nd
SB-CMRE Public Affairs)
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
Date of deployment/redeployment The 330th Joint Movement Control
Battalion (In garrison, we are the
330th Transportation Battalion main
body arrived in Afghanistan NOV. 6.
The 330th JMCB conducted a TOA
with the 39th JMCB on NOV 18.
Hometown/base The 330th JMCB’s home station
Is Fort Bragg, North Carolina. More than 50 Soldiers deployed
with the 330th.
Area of operation The 330th JMCB AO is unique because
we have 19 MCTs located in 15
different locations in all five Regional
Commands in Afghanistan. The 330th
JMCB HQ is located on Bagram Air
Field.
The 330th JMCB, Task Force Dragon’s
Heart, is responsible for continuous and
uninterrupted transportation support
utilizing the National Afghan Trucking
(NAT) contract, Xeless Assets, and Short
Takeoff and landing aircrafts in the
Combined Joint Operations Area-
Afghanistan while simultaneously
conducting redeployment, retrograde,
redistribution, and disposal (R4D)
operations for all CJOA-A units to ensure
1st Theater Sustainment Command
priorities are achieved. The 330th
JMCB provides mission command
for nineteen subordinate Movement
Control Teams (MCTs) committed
to providing first-class customer
service and dedicated to optimizing
In-Transit Visibility.
Current priorities for the 330th
JMCB include: planning, synchronizing,
executing, and tracking contracted
transportation throughout the CJOA in
support of R4D.
Process movement requests and
arrange transport for moving
personnel, equipment, and
sustainment supplies. Maintain NAT Contract Officer
Representative oversight
and execution. Manage the execution
of the Xeless contract. Establish and maintain
positive inbound clearance,
optimize in-transit visibility,
and maximize throughout velocity. Synchronize with CMRE and SB to
facilitate R4D and sustainment
operations. Position MCTs in key locations to
maintain fluid transportation in an
evolving environment.
The 330TH jmcb
6
https://www.facebook.com/82nd-Sustainment-Brigade https://www.facebook.com/330thtrans
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s 7
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
MARMAL, Afghanistan
– In the shade of the night,
Soldiers of the 1230th
Transportation Company,
“Road Dawgs,” conducted
convoy tactics, techniques and procedures, and
honed movement drills to sharpen their skills in
preparation for the following day’s mission, Oct.
12, 2013, Camp Marmal, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghani-
stan. The 1230th TC is in operational support of the
524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion,
Commanded by, Lt. Col. James M. Droppleman,
Regional Command North, Afghanistan.
“It is our job, our priority,
getting the cargo from
Point A to Point B,” said
1st Lt. Derek Ellyson, a
native of Cummings, Ga.
Ellyson is the 2nd
Platoon leader and the
Convoy Escort Leader on
this mission.
He described the platoon’s mission, its capabilities,
explained why they practice the drills and what is
expected of convoy drivers once they exit base
camp to run missions.
“We practice these drills until it’s
muscle memory,” said Ellyson.
As the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles
revved up and moved into position for training,
Ellyson discussed the seriousness of his Soldiers
exercising their TTP’s, and knowing their job.
The drills enable the Soldiers to be able to respond
and react quickly thereby allowing them to remove
themselves and their cargo from danger quickly, if
need be.
“To get out of the kill zone and avoid
hurting others, is our objective” said
Staff Sgt Michael Watson, a native of
Mack, Ga. Watson is the company troop
commander.
Practicing a vehicle hasty hookup drill of two
equal vehicles of even capacity was one of the
drills Watson and another Soldier performed.
Working together as a team, they quickly
demonstrated the speed at which the Hasty Hook
Up drill can be accomplished.
“This drill can be accomplished in a matter of min-
utes, even under combat conditions,” said Watson.
“In a combat situation minutes are important,”
Watson stressed. “We don’t want to give the enemy
enough time to focus on us.”
The 1230th TC, ensures that
drill training allows the Sol-
diers to focus on a couple pri-
orities. The first priority, is
the safety of the Soldiers, and
the second is the success of
the convoy.
“We make sure everyone is trained properly, they
know what to do, and they know how to act if a
situation arises,” said Spc. Dakota Turner, a native
of Lincolnton, Ga., and is a 1230th TC driver.
He capped the moment when he emphasized how
the Soldiers of the 1230th TC, are required to know
their own position and requirements and each
other’s jobs, To Dakota, each Soldier knowing what
to do ensures mission success.
https://www.facebook.com/1230thTransCo
Practice makes Perfect! Hasty hook up drills ensure mission success
“In a combat situation minutes are
important,” Watson stressed.
“We don’t want to give the enemy
enough time to focus on us.”
8
Story by Sgt. 1st. Class Timothy Lawn 1st Theater Sustainment Command
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
“Providing Momentum”
W e practice these drills until its muscle
memory,” said 1st Lt. Derek Ellyson,
platoon leader, as he described the
Soldiers pre-mission training for an upcoming
mission. Ellyson is assigned to the 1230th
Transportation Company, 78th Homeland
Response Force, Georgia Army National Guard.
The 1230th TC Soldiers are on a 10-month
deployment in Afghanistan supporting logistic
convoys, or, what are called green convoys.
Operations may include protecting Afghan
convoys hauling U.S. military equipment,
sustaining convoy missions, hauling loads of
fuel or food to Forward Operating Bases, or
retrieving gear to go to retrograde sort yards for
shipping preparation.
One of the drills practiced is the Hasty Hook -Up drill of
two-equal vehicles of even capacity. The drill enables
the Soldiers to be able to respond and react quickly
thereby allowing them to remove themselves and their
cargo from danger quickly, if need be. Staff Sgt Michael
Watson, company troop commander, and another
Soldier performed the drill, working together as a team,
they quickly demonstrated the speed at which the
Hasty Hook-Up drill can be accomplished.
‘Providing Momentum’
“
9
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s 10
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1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
Combat cash “Eagle Cash Card, that’s pretty much
how we do all these things when it
comes to disbursing and the savings
deposit program,” stated Tudor, a
native of Morehead, Ky. “You can’t do
anything without the Eagle Cash Card.
That is our main source of completing
our task.”
With the Eagle Cash Card Soldiers do
not have to worry about carrying cash
that can be lost or a credit card that
has associated personal information.
“You can just carry around this little
card that has a pin number tied to it,”
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -
S upport, management and
accountability are three key
elements required to support
financial operations throughout
Afghanistan.
The maintenance of financial support
for Soldiers in a deployed environ-
ment is essential. If a Soldier’s
personal finances are not in order it
can create devastating effects to mis-
sion readiness.
“We have to ensure Soldier’s pay is
accurate; and if it isn’t, it is our job to
fix it correctly and accurately,” said
1st Lt. Wesley S. Tudor, detachment
commander of the 101st Financial
Management Support Detachment. “If
we don’t, Soldiers will be thinking
about their finances and how they are
going to take care of their Families,
rather than their mission.”
One of the services provided for
Soldiers in Afghanistan is disbursing
support, which gives Soldiers access
to their pay while in a deployed
environment. Finance operations
also provide military pay services,
also known as MILPAY; this is a
service that allows Soldiers to resolve
pay issues. Soldiers also have access
to military financial programs like the
Savings Deposit Program through
their finance personnel.
Finance personnel also manage
the Eagle Cash Card.
Tudor said. He added that the card
is a valuable asset for finance
operations, because a Soldier can use
the card at the Post Exchange or even
to get a haircut without fear of
losing cash or compromising personal
information.
“All services a Soldier receives in
the U.S. can also be received in
Afghanistan by the finance manage-
ment support un it and i t ’s
detachments,” said Lt. Col. Derek G.
Bean, commander of 101st Special
Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment
Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault).
Few forward operating bases have
f u l l - t i m e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t
capabilities, so there was a need for
Financial Management Support
Teams to be implemented. These
teams consist of two and three
financial management personnel. The
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/116580/combat-cash
Story by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario, Task Force Lifeliner
11
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s 12
Combat cash main function of these teams is to
travel throughout Afghanistan, to
remote FOBs, to ensure every soldier
in theater has the opportunity to
receive finance assistance.
“It’s very important that we make
those missions. Soldiers at remote
areas need to access their money as
much as the soldiers from the larger
FOBs,” Tudor explained.
The personnel from the FMST are a
unique team with huge responsibilities.
“The type of a Soldier that is providing
financial services in Afghanistan, in
combat, is a highly trained, very smart
Soldier who’s accounting for hundreds
of thousands of dollars a day, and in
some cases, millions of dollars,“
emphasized Bean, a native of
Charleston, S.C.
One of those key elements is
accountability Bean explained. Every
single dollar that comes into Afghani-
stan and goes out of Afghanistan has
to be accounted for. Every transaction
has a trail, a receipt. “It’s a big
responsibility because the loss of one
dollar invokes an investigation,” Bean
continued.
One of the highly trained Soldiers Bean
spoke about, recalled an experience
she had when she carried a large
amount of money as a forward operat-
ing base closed and the finance
detachment consolidated their team to
a larger base.
“We closed down our finance office in
Salerno and there were three of us
who had to carry all that excess
money,” stated Spc. Nicoll C. Flores, a
native of Woburn, Mass., and a cashier
with the 101st Financial Management
Support Detachment.
“We had about 1.3 million dollars and
it weighed a ton… it was so heavy. I got
a little bit nervous having all that
money because you never know what’s
going to happen…you just have to keep
your eyes open and make sure
everything around you looks okay.”
Even though taking care of Soldiers is
a priority for the finance mission in
Afghanistan, there are other assets the
financial management support detach-
ments support.
Ensuring payments are made to
civilian contractors is also part of the
finance mission. As explained by Bean,
simple things such as portable latrines
require contracts and those contrac-
tors are paid through the military
finance company.
“We have our hands in everything
throughout the country. That’s the way
I look at it,” Tudor smiled.
The finance detachments have their
challenges as they are incorporated
into just about every aspect of opera-
tions in Afghanistan. It is a natural
process for there to be a drawdown
in financial support alongside the
drawdown of soldiers and the closure
of operating bases.
“When we first arrived there were
two finance companies and seven
total finance detachments,” Bean
explained. “One finance company and
five detachments fell under the 101st
Sustainment Brigade in Eastern
and Northern Afghanistan. The other
finance company and two detach-
ments fell under the 15th Sustainment
Brigade in Southern and Western
Afghanistan.” The 101st Special
Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment
Brigade, will eventually transition the
finance support into a smaller more
mobile theater asset. As we continue
with the drawdown and base closure
operations they begin to transition into
a single Sustainment Brigade. Bean
explained the process as all logistical
and support assets consolidate so will
the finance management support.
Eventually there will be a reduction
in the finance company, which will
leave one finance company in theater
to provide mission command and
operat ional support to seven
finance detachments that will cover
the entire finance operation in
Afghanistan.
“We started this process last month
and we’re gradually taking over the
two-finance management detachments
in the South,” Bean said. “We’re
currently in the process of accounting
for all the funds and will assume
mission command and operational
support.”
The financial operations personnel,
although small in number, pride
themselves on the impact their mis-
sion has in Afghanistan. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars are managed and
processed to support the troops and
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
sustain the forces. These dollars can be
distributed in a variety of ways
such as, Eagle Cash Card, cash, and
vouchers.
“The only other currency our financial
management deals with is the Afghani
currency. We use Afghani in an
attempt to get the U.S. dollar out of
Afghanistan’s economy,” stated Bean.
“We’re trying to ensure that as the
Coalition transitions out of Afghanistan;
the Afghani currency is the one being
used throughout its commerce. This is
why we encourage the use of the Eagle
Cash Card, so there are minimal U.S.
dollars being used in Afghanistan.”
The finance teams throughout theater
work to effectively manage millions
of dollars, to ensure a steady cash
flow, provide financial support
aimed to assist Soldiers in a
deployed environment, assist in the
development of Afghani use in
c o m m e r c e a n d t o s m o o t h l y
transition into a smaller more
mobile finance asset.
101st SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE
(Afghanistan)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Deployment Ongoing
The 101st Sustainment Brigade,
Task Force Lifeliner, is responsible
for providing logistical support to
coalition units throughout Regional
Command (RC) East, RC-North
and RC- Capital, in addition to
synchronizing and executing
the movement of retrograde
equipment.
The "Lifeliners" provide support,
to nearly 49,000 service members
and civilians, through the oversight
and movement of all classes of
supply, from food and fuel to
ammunition. These supplies are
what maintain the warfighters
throughout Afghanistan.
Current operations include:
providing convoy escort teams for
the transport of logistical supplies
throughout RC-East, RC-North and
RC-Capital; aerial delivery; air
movement of personnel and
supplies; postal and financial
operations; humanitarian relief
supply yard operations;
communications support;
and the oversight of food services,
water, fuel, ammunition and
construction material."
The 101st
SustainmEnt
Brigade
Combat cash
http://www.dvidshub.net/image/1050678/combat-cash
Spc. Nicoll C. Flores, a native of Woburn, Mass., and a cashier with the 101st
Financial Management Support Detachment fills out the exchange transaction
record to withdraw money as part of a transaction for a soldier, Nov. 4, 2013,
at Bagram Air Field, Parwan province, Afghanistan. With this form a soldier can
withdraw money to exchange Afghani currency to U.S. dollars or vice versa. The
101st Financial Management Support Detachment is a Massachusetts National
Guard Unit. (U.S. Army Sgt. Sinthia Rosario, Task Force Lifeliner Public Affairs)
13
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1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
The 401st Army Field Support Brigade headquarters
is located at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, where it
leverages the full might of the Army Materiel Enter-
prise at the tip of the spear in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF). The 401st AFSB provides its
headquarters, the Army Sustainment Command, and the
materiel enterprise partners a forward presence.
The 401st AFSB executes, directs and manages field and sustainment level logistics for U.S. and
selected coalition forces in Afghanistan. They serve as the single-entry point for integration and
synchronization for acquisition, logistics and technology between the tactical and the materiel enterprise while
enhancing unit readiness and improving combat capability in accordance with 1st TSC, ARCENT, and
USFOR-A priorities. The AFSB uses a building block approach to supporting the Afghanistan Combined/Joint
Operations Area.
401st ARMY FIELD SUPPORT BRIGADE (AFG)
14 http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/3-401AFSB
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1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
of life revolves around setting
and sticking to goals.
In his efforts as part of the
CMRE, the 20-year-old Hunter
said he sets a new goal everyday
as he off-loads containers
for sorting and prepares military
grade materiel for shipping.
The Soldier processes everything
from auto parts to military manu-
als, lights to medical supplies,
and tools to canvas tents, among
a whole host of other equipment.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD,
Afghanistan — For Phenix City,
Ala., native Pfc. Jordan Hunter, a
motor vehicle operator for the
227th Quartermaster Company,
currently attached to the 82nd
Sustainment Brigade – U.S.
Central Command Materiel
Recovery Element, whether he’s
doing retrograde operations or
preparing for college, his way
“I’ve been in country for two
months, every morning I come in
and get started on the mission of
estimating how many containers
we need to knock out for the
day,” remarked Hunter. “We
work to return materials to the
military system and to save the
American taxpayers’ money.”
“Overall, I feel as if the road
we’re on is that we are on track
to accomplish the mission as
our forces prepare to redeploy
Setting daily goals: CMRE trooper sorts it out
Phenix City, Ala., native Pfc. Jordan Hunter (right), a motor transport operator for the 227th Quartermaster Company, guides
the forklift driven by Thomasville, Ga., native Spc. Xavier Mills, a logistics specialist, 227th QM Company, as he sets a box of
equipment onto a trailer during operations at the Bagram Air Field retro-sort Yards Oct. 26. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class
Jon Cupp, 82nd SB-CMRE Public Affairs)
15
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp 82nd Sustainment Brigade
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
from Afghanistan,” he added.
“Anytime I can be part of history,
regardless of whether I’m work-
ing in the retrosort yard or if I
were preparing to go out on
convoys, I’m still proud of
what I was doing at the end of the
day.”
Much of the materiel Hunter off
loads is needed within the
military inventory. The equipment
is returned to the U.S. or shipped
to pre-staging facilities around the
globe for future contingencies.
“We separate what’s good to keep
and what needs to be disposed of,
such as scrap metal,” said Hunter.
When he’s not driving a forklift,
inventorying material by hand or
preparing and stowing equipment
for shipping, or Hunter spends
his free-time studying or playing
basketball.
“I want to stay focused, and work
on my study guides, while
continuing to make the mission
happen,” said Hunter, who has
several years of education from
Central Texas College behind him
and hopes to one day earn a
degree in sports medicine.
“This is my first deployment. As
a stress reliever, I like to play
basketball,” said Hunter.
“I’ve also learned to lean on other
members of the team to help me
cope with being away from
home,” he added. “I’ve have my
military brothers and sisters that I
can talk to here, so it’s kind of
like a home away from home.”
Hunter’s supervisor, Lawton,
Okla., native, Staff Sgt. Anthony
Hill, retrosort yard noncommis-
sioned officer in charge for the
227th QM Company, said he’s
impressed with the goals his
soldier has set and is fully
confident in the trooper’s abilities.
“He could run this yard by him-
self, he is extremely capable,”
Hill said. “It makes me feel good
to know he’ll always do the
right thing and make the mission
Setting daily goals: CMRE trooper sorts it out
Phenix City, Ala., native Pfc. Jordan
Hunter, a motor transport operator
for 227th Quartermaster Company,
currently attached to the 82nd
Sustainment Brigade – U.S. Central
Command Materiel Recovery Ele-
ment, ties down equipment for ship-
ping during operations at the Bagram
Airfield retro-sort Yards Oct. 26. (U.S.
Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp,
82nd SB-CMRE Public Affairs)
16
BLACK JACK EXPRESS - CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
1. Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn - 1st Theater Sustainment Brigade - PAO - Practice makes Perfect
2. Sgt. Sinthia Rosario, 101st SB - Task Force Lifeliner - Combat Cash
3. Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp, 82nd SB - CMRE Public Affairs - Setting Daily Goals BLACK JACK EXPRESS - unit highlights
1st Theater Sustainment Command Mission Summary
The 82nd SB CMRE
The 330TH Joint Movement Control Battalion
The 101st Sustainment Brigade
401st Army Field Support Brigade (AFG) )
The 809th Quartermaster Liaison Detachment (Petroleum)
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
The 809th
Quartermaster
Liaison Detachment
(Petroleum)
TERMINOLOGY
“Redeployment” is the overall NATO/ISAF term to describe the
movement of personnel and equipment out of Afghanistan.
“Retrograde” is a specific U.S. doctrinal term that describes the
movement of military equipment and other property off of the
battlefield to refurbishing yards where it is eventually returned
to the military inventory for use world-wide.
17
The 809th Quartermaster Liaison
Detachment, Petroleum, was stood up
in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1992. The
unit’s initial training missions
focused on providing support for the
Roving Sands annual national exer-
cises with the Liaison Teams providing eyes on the ground
for the 49th Quartermaster Group (Petroleum).
The 809th deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom/
Enduring Freedom in March 2003 providing support for
Bulk Fuel missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar,
Kuwait, and Uzbekistan. Initially worked supporting Defense
Logistics Agency missions in the CENTCOM Theater, to
include the Humanitarian Aid Task Force and Operation
Restore Iraqi Oil. Took over the 49th Quartermaster Group
Petroleum Fusion Cell in June 2003. The 809th QM DET
earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation for performance
of duties while in theater.
From 2004 to 2013 continued to provide support for
the national Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise to
Petroleum Battalions and Transportation Units working with
Defense Logistics Agency-Energy and the 475th Quarter-
master Petroleum Group.
Currently deploying in Support of Operation Endur-
ing Freedom providing petroleum support to DLA-E and
Army fuel sites throughout Afghanistan.
1 s t T h e a t e r S u s t a i n m e n t C o m m a n d — B l a c k J a c k E x p r e s s
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