Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Powell | Brig. Gen. Jonathan J. McColumn, commander of the 103rd Sustainment Command...... read more read more
ELWOOOD, Ill. – A historic ceremony took place here Sept. 8, when a group of Army Reserve Soldiers from the 459th Transportation Company, 470th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) returned from an annual training mission to their home station, and officially signified the conclusion of exercise Nationwide Move 15.
Nationwide Move is a twelve-month long annual Army Reserve logistics exercise designed to provide transportation and support units with valuable, realistic training in support of activities across the continental U.S. as well as Puerto Rico and Canada.
The Soldiers were welcomed to their home station by a small but enthusiastic crowd of local military supporters, civilians, fellow Soldiers, local politicians and others.
Among those in attendance was Brig. Gen. Jonathan J. McColumn, commander of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), whose unit exercised command and control of NWM 15. “This was an opportunity for us to showcase an end state of something that was accomplished over the course of a full year,” said McColumn. “It provided our Soldiers the opportunity to celebrate and showcase the successful completion of their mission, and I believe we always have to pay close attention to our Soldiers and their accomplishments.”
After the arriving Soldiers parked their vehicles, they attended a short ceremony at the Reserve Center to acknowledge their achievement. One of the first people to recognize the Soldiers was the Mayor of Joliet, Illinois, Bob O’Dekirk.“On behalf of Joliet, we welcome you to our great city and we want to express our gratitude for your service and dedication to duty.”
McColumn also took the opportunity to address the Soldiers and thank them for what they had accomplished. “You’ve demonstrated that you know your job, you know your stuff, and that you are proficient in what you do,” he said.
“You’ve served the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command well, but more importantly you’ve served the U.S. Army Reserve Command well, and you served the Army well.”
One of the Reserve Soldiers who participated in the ceremony was Private Victoria A. Jones, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic and native of Portage, Indiana, assigned to the 459th Trans. Company. “Seeing the warm welcome we received when we arrived, and having this ceremony really made me feel appreciated,” she said. “This was the first annual training mission that I have ever been on, and I loved it.”
Another Soldier at the ceremony seemed to share those feelings. “It was very motivating to see the crowd cheering us on when we arrived,” said Sgt. Lance C. Barrett, an assistant convoy commander from Naperville, Illinois, assigned to the 459th Trans. Company. “It was a really great feeling.”
The ceremony concluded with an award ceremony to recognize some of the outstanding efforts put forth by the Soldiers of the 459th Trans. Company.
“This ceremony was important because it allowed us to recognize the efforts of the entire staff and Soldiers who participated in this exercise,” said Col. Ruth Aponte, assistant chief of staff, support operations for the 103rd ESC. “The Soldiers did a great job and we owe them this recognition.”
McColumn summed the ceremony up with a few final words. “To all of you I say, Job well done. Now let’s keep trucking, keep moving and keep sustaining the battle.”
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2015 09:13 |
| Story ID: | 175688 |
| Location: | ELWOOD, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 207 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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