Photo By Master Sgt. Matthew Keeler | Brig. Gen. Don S. Cornett, the commanding general of the 310th Sustainment Command...... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – In the half-light of Sustainer Theater April 1 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, a golden cloth flag was gently folded by two soldiers who cared deeply for that single piece of cloth. They both took time and care to wrap and secure it before sliding an Army-Combat-Uniform-patterned sleeve over it.
These were no ordinary soldiers, but Brig. Gen. Mark Corson, commanding general of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), a Maryville, Mo., native, and Command Sgt. Maj. LeRoy Haugland, command sgt. maj. and senior enlisted advisor of the 103rd ESC, a Cresco, Iowa, native.
“The casing of the 103rd Sustainment Command Expeditionary’s colors signifies the completion of the mission and is symbolic of the outgoing command’s journey,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ray Calef, the public affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the 103rd ESC, a Des Moines, Iowa, native, and the master of ceremony for the Transfer of Authority ceremony.
The cloth was the colors of the 103rd ESC, and the covering of their colors during the ToA formally transitions the mission to the 310th ESC, the unit replacing the 103rd.
“Today marks the end of the 103rd ESC’s 275 days on-mission sustaining U.S. Forces-Iraq, supporting the ISF’s [Iraqi Security Forces’] supply and train mission, and re-posturing the force,” Corson said. “ It has been a great privileged to be a part of U.S. Forces-Iraq, and making history here. And, that whatever our sacrifices, it was worth it.”
When the 103rd ESC arrived in country, the soldiers and command element were put to the test.
“We knew we would assume this mission in the middle of what was called ‘the waterfall,’ as we completed the responsible drawdown of forces from 130,000 to 50,000, in only four months,” Corson said.
The responsible drawdown signified the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and began the new mission of Operation New Dawn. Corson admits that there were naysayers, who did not believe that the 103rd ESC could responsibly draw down forces from Iraq by the September deadline.
However, the 103rd ESC, along USF-I, proved them wrong by completing the mission 10 days early and seamlessly changing the mission over to OND.
“Sustainment does not take care of itself,” Corson said. “It happens through the dedicated effort of the 5,000 soldiers, airmen, sailors, and 6,500 contractors of the expeditionary sustainment command working with our strategic partners and the brigade support battalions.”
The sheer amount of time, effort and equipment that the 103rd ESC helped coordinate and track is something that is amazing.
“In the last 275 days, the sustainers executed about 31,000 convoys consisting of about 1.2 million vehicles that sustained the force to re-posture equipment,” Corson said. “That, on an average day, that would be tons of food, thousands of bottled water, hundreds of tons of mail, and thousands of gallons of fuel to contingency bases around Iraq.”
What that means is that every soldier got their mail, and any other mission essential equipment every day, Corson said.
“That more than anything is the real story,” he said.
“Today is a kind of bittersweet day as the 103rd ESC, but I’m heartened to know that my battle buddy, Brig. Gen. Cornett, and our sister unit, the 310th ESC, are here to relieve us,” Corson said. “Though part of my heart will remain with the dedicated sustainment soldiers still here continuing this mission, I know they will be in great hands with Don [Cornett] and his great 310th team.”
With the unfurling of their colors, the 310th ESC, after about a year of training, is ready to take over the mission in Iraq from the 103rd ESC, said Brig. Gen. Don S. Cornett Jr., commanding general of the 310th ESC, and an Aurora, Neb., native.
“This deployment will be demanding and will bring new challenges as we conclude Operation New Dawn,” Cornett said. “I am proud to serve with every one of you”.
Even as the green cactus and golden cloth of the 103rd’s colors are covered, it does not mean that the mission of the 103rd is completely over.
“I’m looking forward to some much-deserved rest for all the soldiers; this is not end of mission, it is a change of mission because we have 6,000 Army Reserve soldiers in 77 units in six different states that we are responsible for,” Corson said.
Before leaving the podium, Corson wanted the gathered soldiers, airmen and sailors that he had commanded for 275 days to know how much he appreciated their work.
“To the sustainment soldiers, airmen, and sailors, the great work that you have done cannot be measured on a spreadsheet, and your achievements are monumental,” he said.
Corson said he was constantly reminded by the service members’ selfless service and commitment that they are a volunteer force, which stood up during a time of war and said ‘Send me.’
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2011 16:02 |
| Story ID: | 68171 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 699 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Changing hands: Sustainment mission, drawdown become 310th ESC’s responsibility, by MSG Matthew Keeler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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