Photo By Maj. Brian Hare | Lt. Col. Craig Roberts, 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), commander,...... read more read more
CAMP TAJI, IRAQ – The 275th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) relinquished command to the 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) during a transfer of authority ceremony May 5.
Headquartered in Dothan, Alabama, the 787th CSSB works with the units under their operational control as Task Force Grizzly, a task force that will provide sustainment support to U.S. and Coalition Forces in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
“We’re prepared to go the extra mile,” said Lt. Col. Craig Roberts, 787th CSSB, commander. “We’ve come a long way, we have a long way to go, but I am confident that we will embrace this mission with a Grizzly embrace.”
Along with Roberts, speakers at the ceremony included Col. Kimberly Martindale, commander of the 38th Sustainment Brigade, and Lt. Col. Daniel Tilton, commander of the 275th CSSB. Brig. Gen. Deborah Kotulich, deputy commanding general, 1st Theater Sustainment Command-Operational Command Post was among the special guests in attendance.
In preparation for their deployment, the 787th CSSB embarked on an intensive two-week training exercise in February at Fort Rucker, Alabama that included events such as range operations, squad tactics, and an extensive land navigation course, among others.
The Soldiers of Task Force Grizzly conducted operations in the field, sleeping in tents during the entire exercise at Fort Rucker, which helped them acclimate to the stresses involved with having to function in an austere environment on a continual basis.
Pfc. Ryan Ramsammy, a Task Force Grizzly Soldier experiencing his first deployment, remarked on the two-week training at Fort Rucker as being an important team building event for the 787th.
“We all worked well together, which is always a good thing before a deployment,” said Ramsammy. “It gave me time to get a little closer to my teammates and get to know everyone better.”
In March, the 787th CSSB continued their mobilization process at Fort Hood, Texas, completing individual and group tasks such as language and cultural training, as well as familiarization with the logistical and automation systems the unit is required to operate in theater.
Mobilization training for the 787th CSSB at Fort Hood included a Culminating Training Event (CTE) consisting of scenarios the unit would be likely to encounter while conducting real-world sustainment operations. Many of the CTE scenarios required the 787th CSSB staff to utilize the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) to determine best courses of action, said Capt. Ciera Jackson, a staff officer with Task Force Grizzly.
“The culminating training event provided an opportunity for Officer and NCO professional development and it forced the team to think outside the box, especially when it came to MDMP,” said Jackson.
The unit was officially certified by a Fort Hood evaluation team as being ready to embark on their mission upon conclusion of the CTE.
“We are the Grizzly Battalion,” said Roberts. “Like the Grizzly who is mean, fierce, hunts and attacks with relentless tenacity, as is the professionalism, readiness, commitment and dedication of our Battalion.”
The Soldiers of Task Force Grizzly will be deployed in theater for approximately one year.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2018 02:47 |
| Story ID: | 276872 |
| Location: | CAMP TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 697 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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