Photo By Spc. Andrew Ingram | Sgt. Linda Gutierrez, left, supply specialist, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Curtis...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – The 52nd Engineer Battalion received the U.S. Forces Command Supply Excellence Award in the Property Book Officer category, during a ceremony at Fort Carson, Jan. 12.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Bailey, deputy commanding general for support, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, presented the award to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Curtis Campbell, property book officer, 52nd Engineer Battalion, who championed the battalion’s efforts to earn the award at both the post and FORSCOM-levels.
Every year, units compete at the company, battalion and brigade level in the competition, which rates units on their commitment to command supply discipline, said Campbell.
“With the operational tempo that we have had in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 10 years, it has become hard to maintain accountability of everything,” Campbell said. “This competition reminds us of the importance the Army places on good supply discipline.”
The judges graded competing units on their adherence to the standards set forth by the Army Command Supply Discipline Program in Army Regulation 720-2, which covers units’ responsibilities toward issued equipment.
The 52nd engineers earned the right to compete at the FORSCOM level by first distinguishing themselves at the post level, said Maj. Benjamin Wallen, executive officer, 52nd Engineer Battalion.
Competing against their sister units at Fort Carson helped prepare the 52nd Engineer Battalion soldiers for the FORSCOM competition, said Wallen.
“What enabled us to win at FORSCOM was an incredible amount of hard work,” he said, “but it wasn’t just hard work from our battalion. It was the whole post, the family that we have here at Fort Carson. They all supported us in our endeavor.”
The team overcame a huge challenge by winning the SEA competition only two years after the battalion’s activation in 2010, said Wallen.
While challenging, creating a brand new battalion’s supply system proved to be a tremendous opportunity to make sure the system worked from the beginning, said Campbell.
“Starting the battalion from scratch was very hard, but I was also able to create a very robust supply discipline system,” he explained. “We were able to pull ideas from other units we had served with, and I think the result was pretty good.”
Wallen attributed his battalion’s success during the competition to Campbell’s impressive attention to detail in maintaining supply standards, and his outstanding direction of supply operations during the past two years.
“Chief Campbell is an all-star,” said Wallen. “It was his efforts and his coordination with [Fort Carson] and the companies for support that got things done. He was the catalyst that ensured that we were successful.”
Campbell credits his success to the leaders, non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have motivated and helped him during his tenure with the 52nd Engineer Battalion.
“I would not have been able to get any of this accomplished without the help of strong NCOs, like Sgt. Clayton Bowmen, who was my NCO during most of this process,” he said.
Campbell said he also relied heavily on the leadership and motivation provided by the 52nd Engineer Battalion's first commander, Lt. Col. Michael Brooks.
“I was fortunate to have a commander who knows that logistics plays a very important role in readiness,” he said. “Sometimes, we have the misconception that we just need to be ready to fight, but if we know how to fight and are not properly equipped, then we are not truly ready to fight; and my commander has always made logistics a high priority.”
Campbell said he is currently preparing his property books and supply rooms for the Department of the Army judges, who are slated to arrive at Fort Carson in March to evaluate the 52nd Engineer Battalion for the next level of the competition.
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2012 18:27 |
| Story ID: | 82782 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 490 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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