Sustainment Brigades transfer authority at Joint Base Balad

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Behlin | Col. Therese O'Brien, 55th Sustainment Brigade Commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. James Hill, senior enlisted leader of the 55th Sust. Bde., case the 55th Sust. Bde. Colors during a transfer of authority ceremony held today at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. During its deployment, the 55th Sust. Bde.'s accomplishments included completing 3,225 combat logistics patrols which accounted for over 6,800,000 miles, processed over 7,500 transportation movement requests, and established the Summary Court Martial Officer Training for Joint Base Balad.  

BALAD, IRAQ

12.12.2008

Story by Spc. Michael Behlin 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By Michael Behlin
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – The 55th Sustainment Brigade, commanded by Col. Therese O'Brien, transferred authority to the 304th Sustainment Brigade, commanded by Lt. Col. Norman Green, during a ceremony at Joint Base Balad, Dec. 11.

The 55th Sust. Bde., a reserve-component unit from Fort Belvoir, Va., provided logistical oversight of key commodities, distribution of all classes of supply and key maintenance services during their combat tour in support of Multi-National Divisions-North and Baghdad.

A subordinate brigade of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), the 55th Sust. Bde. made history as the first reserve-component sustainment brigade to be deployed to Iraq.

"In all your [55th] efforts were a critical part to a greatly improved security situation here in Iraq, where attacks of all kinds across Iraq are at their lowest levels since 2003," stated Brig. Gen. Michael J. Lally, commander of the 3d ESC who served as reviewing officer for the transfer-of-authority.

Since its arrival in March of 2008, the 55th Sust. Bde. completed over 3,225 combat logistics patrols, drove over 6,800,000 miles, processed over 7500 transportation movement requests, and partnered with the 8th Iraqi Army and Kirkush Location Command to improve Iraq's military drive towards self-sustainment.

Overall, O'Brien said she was appreciative of the hard work and dedication displayed by her Soldiers and subordinates during their deployment.

"It was really the Soldiers of the 55th who were responsible for running everything and basically just making us [leadership] look good," said O'Brien. "They did an awesome job during this deployment and for that I'm very proud of them."

Replacing the 55th will be the 304th Sust. Bde. from March Air Force Base, Calif. The brigade's expeditionary capability allows it to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world, operate air and sea ports, establish a theater distribution systems, and provide sustained logistics support to the warfighter in a joint, interagency and multinational environment.

Commanded by Lt. Col. Norman Green, the 304th Sust. Bde., is anxious to get operation under way here. Green said Soldiers are capable of getting the job done during their deployment.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2008
• Date Posted: 12.12.2008 03:16
• Story ID: 27564
• Location: BALAD, IQ