Photo By Sgt. Jason Adolphson | The 1st Theater Sustainment Command Afghanistan Transition Team marches to the head of...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The 1st Theater Sustainment Command Afghanistan Transition Team is returning to Fort Bragg, N.C., after spending six months working with 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, an Alabama-based National Guard unit serving at the helm of Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan.
The 14-Soldier team assisted JSC-A with initiating the buildup of 30,000 troops and supporting operations throughout Afghanistan.
Now that the sustainment command is at full operational capacity, the transition team's officer-in-charge, Maj. Jason Liggett said JSC-A was on track to make the mission work but their experience bolstered the transition. The 1st TSC, partly based out of Kuwait, came with pedigree knowledge from sustaining a combat presence since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Operational support in Afghanistan included the logistical transport of 100-250 host nation trucks each day, developing contracts for troop living conditions and making air drops of food and fuel to forward operating bases.
Liggett said it was a matter of evaluating current procedures and adding to the existing doctrine.
With the surge increasing operational tempo in Afghanistan, the transition team helped assemble the establishment of two sustainment brigades with oversight from the JSC-A – a first in the war's nine year history.
Before the arrival of 135th ESC, 143rd ESC controlled one sustainment brigade for operations in Afghanistan. Now 135th provides oversight of 82nd Sustainment Brigade out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and 43rd SB, based in Fort Carson, Colo., which broadens the JSC-A sustainment mission.
One major move that has come into play is the movement control operations at Chaman Gate; an international border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The gate is used as part of a major supply route by International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan.
"We helped JSC-A further articulate what is coming through the gate," Capt. Matthew Broccious, the 1st TSC surface mobility officer said. "Now we have higher visibility of what is on the highway and better predictability of shipments coming in."
Other forms of training included more than 70 hours reviewing topics such as streamline orders, how to produce rapid information and movement timelines.
Liggett said the methodology used for the transition was event driven and based on actual events in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
The acting commanding general for 135th, Garry Sheffer said the 1st TSC efforts with JSC-A will have lasting effects. "Everything that has been done, they've been a part of it," Sheffer said while speaking to Soldiers during a formation. "They'll always be a part of it."
JSC-A provides command and control of sustainment units in order to plan, coordinate and support the ongoing combined joint operations area in Afghanistan; and partners with Afghan national security forces in order to develop its sustainment capability.
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2010 11:08 |
| Story ID: | 49169 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 364 |
| Downloads: | 243 |
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