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21st Theater Sustainment Command provides critical logistical node operations in Sweden.
BODEN, Sweden – The 95th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, conducted joint convoy support center operations with their Swedish armed forces counterpart during the 3rd Light Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, onward movement phase in support of the DEFENDER Europe 2024 multinational exercise.
95th CSSB is one battalion under the 16th Sustainment Brigade, the theater’s premier logistical brigade that is critical to ensuring 21st TSC can “set the theater”. Setting the theater refers to the reception, staging, and onward movement (RSOM) of units coming into and transiting through the European theater. During this phase of the operation, multitudes of military convoys are making their way across Sweden and onto their respective forward operating sites in Finland.
Lt. Col. Robin Eskelson, the commander of the 95th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, led the 21st TSC’s efforts in providing convoy support center operations within Sweden to ensure that all convoys make it to Finland as fast and as safe as possible.
“Getting here on ground and working with the Swedish Armed Forces has been amazing. They have met us with open arms and helping us navigate through the High North and what it means to drive across Sweden because it is new to us. It’s been really eye opening and we’ve learned a lot” said Eskelson. “We ensure that the vehicles from the light infantry unit are able to travel and traverse through the High North. We make sure all their maintenance is supported and take care of any incidents that may happen.”
This mission is the 95th CSSB’s second major operation since its reactivation after 51 years on April 6, 2023. The battalion has been critical in supporting major exercises such as African Lion and current operations across the theater, greatly assisting 16th Sustainment Brigade in accomplishing their logistical missions.
This multinational operation included elements of the Swedish Northern Military Region who not only conducted maintenance services alongside their U.S. counterparts but provided the military escorts for each convoy.
Col. Lars Karlsson, Commander of the Northern Military Region (Sweden) forces took their roles and responsibilities seriously. “We see this mission, not as a routine training exercise, but as a real-world operation,” said Karlsson. “What we do here today is exactly how we would be responding to any external threats to Sweden or NATO; it is all very real to us.”
This CSC operation was not an independent and isolated joint mission either. This was just one in a string of logistical nodes that dotted the transit route in key locations which proved vital to the convoys transiting the High North.
Col. Ryan Barnett, commander of the 3rd LBCT, 10th Mountain Division relied on this CSC to successfully lead his Soldiers from Narvik, Norway to their forward operating sites in Finland.
“The Combat Support Centers established by the 21st TSC are vital for our mission success as our Light Brigade Combat Team conducts this historical tactical road march through Norway, Sweden and into Finland in support of Immediate Response. The CSCs enable our unit to project U.S. Army combat power into the High North.” Said Barnett.
Although this mission was effectively ruled a success, there certainly were difficulties and lessons learned through operating in Sweden and the High North with a large-scale movement of troops.
“It’s much different operating in the High North than what we’re used to seeing in the lower Europe, we’re really working with colder temperatures where vehicles act differently and then doing recovery operations in this environment; that’s also a bit more difficult” said Eskelson. “As well as understanding and reacting to the wildlife such as reindeers that may come out onto the roads.”
No reindeers were hurt during the entirety of this operation.
95th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion’s CSC operation in Sweden exemplified what it means for the U.S. Army, NATO Allies, and partner nations to be truly stronger together!
Immediate Response 24 is an exercise under the Defender 24 umbrella. DEFENDER is a Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercise that consists of Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response. DEFENDER 24 is linked to NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise, and DoD’s Large Scale Global Exercise, taking place from 28 March to 31 May. DEFENDER 24 is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and includes more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations, including Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2024 06:39 |
| Story ID: | 470519 |
| Location: | BODEN, SE |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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