Photo By Staff Sgt. Andrea Merritt | Lt. Col. William Arther, commander of the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion,...... read more read more
By Spc. Andrea Merritt
1st Sustainment Brigade
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, an Army Reserve unit based out of Rockfeld, Md., officially took control of operations from the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a transfer of authority ceremony, Sept. 21, 2008.
The 398th CSSB now has command and control of Victory Base Complex bulk fuel farm, central receiving and shipping point yard, liberty ammunition supply point and shower laundry and clothing repair teams in Multi-National Divisions – Baghdad and Center.
In order to prepare for their new mission, the 398th CSSB underwent months of pre-mobilization and mobilization training. Upon arriving to Iraq, the Soldiers of the 398th CSSB trained closely with their counterparts in the 553rd CSSB to fully understand how to perform their duties.
"The 398th [CSSB] is fully ready to support the mission," said Lt. Col. William Arther, an Eldersburg, Md. Native, and the 398th CSSB commander.
"[Our goal] is to get the mission done and try to make a positive impact to the mission," added Arther. "The main purpose here is the warfighters and the decision makers."
Although the 553rd CSSB has cased its colors and left its former responsibilities in capable hands, the unit's mission is far from complete. The battalion is not quite heading home, but to a different location on the camp.
The 553rd CSSB, a Fort Hood, Texas, unit, is scheduled to transition with the 168th Brigade Support Battalion and take on a new mission. The unit will be responsible for a multi-class Supply Support Activity and conduct direct support maintenance.
The unit will also have to direct the transport of supplies to about 80,000 warfighters throughout MND-B and MND-C.
"We were aware before our deployment that our mission was going to change. That wasn't an issue for the battalion headquarters since we'd already trained on both mission sets at the National Training Center in November 2007," said Lt. Col. Gregory Koller, the commander of the 553rd CSSB.
"We look forward to our next mission and will continue to provide great support to our customers," added Koller, a Mobile, Ala. native.
| Date Taken: | 10.03.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.03.2008 08:55 |
| Story ID: | 24475 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 375 |
| Downloads: | 189 |
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