Photo By Amy Perry | Lt. Col. Austin W. Elliott, outgoing 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. – Another chapter of the U.S. Forces Command closed on Fort Lee Friday as the 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and two of its subordinate elements furled their guidons during an inactivation ceremony on Seay Field near CASCOM headquarters.
A few years ago, the 49th Quartermaster Group sported two battalions – including the 530th CSSB – and numerous companies. After the inactivation ceremony Friday, all that remains is the two mortuary affairs units – the 54th QM Co. and the 111th QM Company.
Along with the 530th CSSB, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the 108th Quartermaster Company deactivated during the event. The battalion – Fort Lee’s only Forces Command element – was responsible for most of the post’s deployments. The two remaining companies will continue to deploy on a rotational basis and will fall under the 82nd Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Lt. Col. Austin W. Elliott – the 530th’s commander since Dec. 3, 2010 – and Command Sgt. Maj. James Jenkins III furled the guidon. Afterwards, Elliot relinquished command of the battalion to Col. Mark D. Collins, 82nd Sustainment Bde. commander.
“Transitions like this are nothing new to Fort Lee and the sustainment community in general as we’ve inactivated several units, including the 49th QM Group,” said Collins. “Change is one of the constant things we have in the Army.
“The 530th was originally activated at a time when our nation and the free world were in imminent peril,” he continued. “The unit was constituted in 1942. “The 530th had transitioned over the years – back and forth – from peace to war to unit re-designations changes to inactivation only to see the colors unfurled again in service to the nation. These are all storied chapters of this unit’s history.”
While the flag may be cased, the 530th Superleg legacy will live on, said Collins.
“The soldiers who have served in this historical organization, the soldiers they have trained and led, continue on into the future,” he said. “They serve and carry forward with them the Superleg legacy – the warrior legacy. These soldiers who stand before us now reflect all of those who came before them.”
The Superleg legacy is one of commitment and service, said Elliot.
“If you want to know who the 530th is, you simply need to ask where it has it been. Soldiers from the 530th have served on five continents,” said Elliot. “In 47 years, the 530th has been involved in nearly every action the U.S. Army has seen and survived two major post war reductions, but not this one.”
Elliot also took time to commend the unit’s soldiers.
“Soldiers of the 530th, I have never seen you look better than you look today,” he said. “You are part of a proud legacy and a tradition of selfless service. Be proud of your accomplishments.”
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2013 13:30 |
| Story ID: | 108170 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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