Photo By Sgt. Jeremy Odom | Lt. Col. DaSilva officially assumes command by receiving the 1SB colors from Col....... read more read more
EL GORAH, Egypt – October is a time for change. For some it is a change of weather, foliage or even time in some countries. Recently Soldiers deployed to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt stationed at the Multinational Force and Observers’ North Camp, witnessed significant change in leadership. It was so significant that the word “change” was the overall reoccurring theme for the U.S. Army’s 1st Support Battalion’s change of command ceremony held here.
Task Force Sinai’s commander, Col. Clark Lindner, welcomed the incoming commander of 1SB-10, Lt. Col. Wilson DaSilva, of the Nevada Army National Guard’s 757th Combat Sustainment and Support Battalion as he transferred the battalion’s colors from the outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Aaron Hardy.
“If I could provide a theme to capture the service of 1SB-9, it could be summed up in one word, change,” said Lindner. “But with change comes opportunity.”
Linder went on to list several things in his speech that have changed in the time of 1SB-9’s training and deployment to the Sinai over the last year, such as the MFO’s commander, the meaning of the term “ISIS” and even the transfer of the World Cup trophy, just to name a few.
It only took the new commander about a week to know he would be leading a great group of Soldiers. Despite just meeting Soldiers from the previously established aviation, medical and EOD companies, he could tell they were the ultimate professionals in their trade.
“As I sat down to write this speech, I looked to the leaders of the past for inspiration, but I quickly realized that I needed not to do that,” said DaSilva in his first speech as the 1SB commander. “We can look left and right and find capable and dedicated leaders and Soldiers carrying on the finest traditions of military service.”
DaSilva’s NG unit teamed up with the 204th Area Support Medical Company from Minnesota at Ft. Dix for pre-deployment training. While deployed in the Sinai, the medical professionals will be responsible for the operation and management of the dispensary at both MFO North and South camps.
The 1SB serves as the logistical powerhouse to Task Force Sinai. It is a tradition which has been carried on since 1982 by providing logistical, medical, postal, transportation and aviation support to the MFO.
“One thing which has not changed in the period that 1SB-9 has been here is the provision of world-class logistics support to the MFO,” said Lindner of Hardy. “So, as you redeploy from this desert, you can do so justifiably-proud of the incredible accomplishments which you have racked up in such a short amount of time.”
Although Lindner commended Hardy and his team on their accomplishments, the two commanders admitted that the success of 1SB-9 did not happen overnight. Instead their success was the result of months of hard work that required Hardy and his senior enlisted adviser, Sgt. Maj. Gregory Teague, to compile a team from various active duty units; a feat which had rarely been achieved.
Hardy and Teague put together a battalion from active duty units in Fort Hood and Fort Campbell, before assuming responsibility for a mission which typically fell to National Guard units. With a complete team, the Soldiers of 1SB-9 successfully completed their nine-month rotation before handing over the reins to DaSilva.
Though this is the first deployment for the 757th CSSB Headquarters Company based in Reno, DaSilva has no doubts about their ability to accomplish the mission.
“It is a dangerous part of the world and it will certainly face many challenges,” said DaSilva. “But I can assure that the soldiers are trained and are ready for this mission.”
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2014 04:16 |
| Story ID: | 146903 |
| Location: | EL GORAH, EG |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | RENO, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 593 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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