Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Rauel Tirado | Lt. Col. Troy J. Soukup (right), commander of the 1st Battalion, 125th Field...... read more read more
KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait – The 1st Battalion, 182nd Field Artillery, Mich. Army National Guard turned over its responsibilities here to the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, Minnesota Army National Guard in a Transfer of Authority ceremony, Aug. 13.
During the past year, 1-182nd provided theater security and helped sustain Third Army operations throughout its area of responsibility.
Region security is vital for Third Army ongoing operations.
“It was about how to prevent, rather than react; that was the hardest thing to accept about the mission,” said Brig. Gen. David Clarkson, deputy commanding general (support), 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), during the ceremony. “Unfortunately, with this job, it’s hard to say how much was prevented in securing and protecting our forces.”
Clarkson stated 1-182nd’s professionalism in handling difficulties while protecting tens of thousands of soldiers and billions of dollars in equipment throughout Kuwait was a job well done.
After a successful year, the 1-182nd can now reflect on their accomplishments and begin redeploying home to Mich.
“The mission was a major success,” said Lt. Col. Leonard Rusher, commander of the 1-182nd and a Lansing, Mich., native. “I had a great deal of support from my officers, non-commissioned officers and junior enlisted soldiers. They all did a phenomenal job.”
Rusher said a highlight for him during the year was working with the host nation.
“Learning from battle drills and rehearsals, our soldiers were ready when the time came to execute and work with the Kuwaitis,” said Rusher. “Our mission worked flawlessly.”
As the 1-125th assumes authority, it will be their responsibility to continue working with our allied partners.
“We look forward to facilitate working with the combined armed forces on the ground,” said Lt. Col. Troy Soukup, commander of 1-125th and a Maple Grove, Minn., native. “We must continue to build on the trust and relationships with the Kuwait Navy, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior.”
Soukup reiterated the importance of working together with multinational forces as part of Third Army’s focus on strengthening regional cooperation.
The 1-125th and multinational forces will now be responsible in providing security to Third Army AOR, which is comprised of more than 31,000 service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors in the region.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2011 07:39 |
| Story ID: | 75621 |
| Location: | KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, KW |
| Web Views: | 399 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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