Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion play softball against...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. -82nd Sustainment Brigade soldiers participated in sports activities and family events during the brigade’s annual Provider Week, Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 in the Life Support Activity Bragg East area. Provider Week is a celebration of the unit’s most precious resource, its soldiers and family members. The brigade prides itself in being the largest sustainment brigade in the Army and a multifunctional unit capable of sustaining multiple missions, from the Global Response Force to combat sustainment support of deployed units. On an individual level, Provider Week gives soldiers and their family members the opportunity to get to know each other through friendly competition and family readiness group events.
“Provider Week is crucial to the upkeep of the morale for the soldiers in the unit,” said 1st Lt. Megan Caldwell-Meeks, 82nd Special Troops Battalion human resources officer-in-charge and Los Angeles, native.
“Not only does it help build esprit de corps throughout the brigade, Provider Week highlights some of the superstars we have in this unit. With all the competitions we have throughout the week, it’s a great opportunity for soldiers from different battalions to meet each other.”
The 82nd Sus. Bde. soldiers participated in team-building events including basketball, volleyball, and softball. Family readiness group leaders coordinated a chili cook-off and “cooking-with-kids” events.
“Provider Week brings a lot of people together; we are a brigade, but a lot of people don’t know each other,” said Staff Sgt. Keith Jenkins, a rigger with the 623rd Quartermaster Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and New York City, native. “With all the sports and other FRG events going on, it really gives us a chance to meet each other and that helps build camaraderie within the brigade.”
“I think the overall impact of Provider Week is that it gives the soldiers a chance to meet and compete against each other in a friendly environment,” said Sgt. 1st Class Angela Enright, an information systems operator-analyst with the 82nd STB and Greenville, Ill., native. “It also gives the soldiers a break, an opportunity for them to rest while getting them out of the office, and supporting their fellow soldiers in the many different competitions throughout the week.”
The 82nd Sus. Bde. LSA Bragg East Dining Facility soldiers and FRG leaders taught 82nd Sus. Bde. children how to make pizza. The children rotated between cooking, making arts and crafts, making ice cream creations and watching the Disney film "Ratatouille".
“I really enjoyed the “cooking with kids” part of Provider Week,” said Maj. Batina Church, 82nd Sus. Bde. adjutant and Marietta, Ga., native. “I had a chance to show my son the dining facility. Family events like these help to build confidence in the brigade for not just the soldiers, but the family members as well.”
The brigade capped off the first day’s events with a grand opening of the 82nd Sus. Bde. Resource Center. Located behind Blackjack Gym, the resource center provides a place where soldiers and noncommissioned officers can develop themselves both professionally and academically with eight computer work stations and free wireless internet.
Brigade commander Col. Christopher Sharpsten, Command Sgt. Maj. Edward A. Bell, 82nd Sus. Bde. senior enlisted adviser, Command Sgt. Maj. Isaia Vimoto, XVIII Airborne Corps senior enlisted adviser and Command Sgt. Maj. Yolanda Tate, Fort Bragg Garrison senior enlisted adviser, cut the ribbon on Oct. 29 to open the center for use.
The Commander’s Challenge was the final event for the week and provided companies, battalions and the brigade command team the opportunity to compete against each other. The teams competed in the Marine Corps Combat Physical Fitness Test; each team consisted of a commander and a senior enlisted adviser, representing all levels of command throughout the brigade.
Marines from a unit assigned to Fort Bragg officiated the events this year. The challenge consisted of a series of physically-demanding events, including a 30-pound ammunition can lift, 800 meter sprint and buddy carries.
“Soldiers love watching company and battalion command teams compete against each other and work hard,” said Caldwell-Meeks. “It shows they’re no different than the soldiers they command.”
“I think it’s important for soldiers to see their command teams out there sweating and working hard,” said Jenkins. “It reinforces the notion that we wouldn’t ask you to do anything that we wouldn’t do ourselves.”
Provider Week concluded with the all-ranks Provider Ball. Col. Chris Sharpsten, 82nd Sus. Bde. Commander, and Massena, N.Y., native, presented the commander’s cup to the battalion who performed the best throughout the week. The 264th CSSB took home the commander’s cup this year. Throughout the evening, awards were presented to outstanding FRG volunteers. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, coach of the Duke Blue Devils Basketball fame, spoke to the attendees via video, and numerous soldiers were recognized for their efforts throughout the year. The night ended with dancing and music as the soldiers of the 82nd Sus. Bde. celebrated another year of being provider strong.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.26.2012 11:28 |
| Story ID: | 98335 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 82nd Sustainment Brigade celebrates with Provider Week, by SPC David McCarthy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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