Patience, Adaptability Key for Mission Success
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Hurry and stop by the LSAA Tax Center, FREE tax preparation and filing ends May 15 APRILANAC 18, 2007 PROUDLYNDA SERVING TIMES LSA ANACONDA Got Directions? REACHING OUT TERRAIN ANALYSIS TEAM LSAA’s 2-82 FA impacts nearby villages one classroom at a time KEEPS CLPS ON TRACK Page 6 Page 15 Vol. 4, Issue 15 Soldiers inducted to the Audie Murphy Club on LSAA Patience, adaptability by Sgt. Kevin McSwain Anaconda Times Staff LSA ANACONDA, Iraq—Eight Soldiers were inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, an elite group for noncommissioned officers April 6 here. key for mission success The ceremony was held in Sustainer Theater to See Page 6 recognize Soldiers throughout Iraq for their profes- “I am impressed with our Soldiers and their ability to balance emotion with mission.” sionalism and outstanding performance based on - Sgt. 1st Class Monte Kerchal the Audie Murphy merit board. The Soldiers inducted into the Audie Murphy Club were: Staff Sgt. Jason Fiedler, 411th Engi- neer Brigade; Staff Sgt. Rafael Ramirez, 657th Area Support Group; Staff Sgt. Jose D. Garcia, Company B, Brigade Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Calvary Division; Sgt. Mandi Bras- sell, 45th Sustainment Brigade; Staff Sgt. Michael Thornton, 22nd Personnel Service Battalion, 45th SB; Staff Sgt. Marada Blakely, 164th Corps Sup- port Group; Sgt. Carlos Bermudez, 164th CSG, and Staff Sgt. Charles Duke, 82nd Sustainment Bri- gade. The event, hosted by the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), had more than 200 ser- vicemembers in attendance. As part of the official party, Brig. Gen. Michael Terry, 13th SC (E) com- manding general, gave words of encouragement to the newest inductees into the club and to the Sol- diers who aspire to be a part of the organization. “Going forward I want everyone to take initia- tive to become a member of this organization,” he said. The commanding general said the group of NCOs receiving their medallions in this ceremony should feel even more pride than those who receive the same honor in the United States. “Earning this membership alone is difficult,” he said. “Earning it in this combat environment is remarkable.” General Terry challenged all the senior NCOs in the room to prepare their Soldiers to become an inductee into the Audie Murphy Club. “If you have any Soldiers remotely interested in this honor, you must begin preparing them now,” he said. As General Terry spoke about Audie Murphy, he educated Soldiers in the audience on the history see AUDIE, Page 14 Sgt. 1st Class Monte Kerchal, noncommissioned officer in charge for the 1-167 administrative section, holds an infant in the village of Albu Hassan, Iraq. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Douglas A. Schultz “I will never quit.” I am Spc. Jason Smith, from Austin, Texas 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st CD >> Cavalry Scout PAGE 2 ANACONDA TIMES APRIL 18, 2007 Lt. Col. Anthony Wirth Whatour leaders think: 13th SC(E) Distribution Management Center Support Operations Officer (The Anaconda Times Staff will provide the toughest part of being a logistician. How would you rate the overall its readers weekly interviews with For the Support Operations of the 13th morale of Soldiers in Iraq? experienced officers and sergeants major SC(E) this distance and dispersion to explain their role within the senior extends from the fighting position So many things have happened in our 7 logistics headquarters in Iraq.) all the way back to the United States months in Iraq in which we played a part; National Inventory Control Points. Humanitarian Relief mission, support Lt. Col. Anthony Wirth is the 13th We have one of the greatest industrial to forces throughout the Iraqi Theater Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) bases in the world to support our of Operations, The surge—too many Distribution Management Center Armed forces, the challenge, which lies to list. However, the greatest success Support Operations Officer. A native squarely on the soldiers of this Support I have personally witnessed has been of downstate Illinois, he plays a critical Operations Team, is getting it to the the professional growth of the Soldiers role in the sustaining of coalition forces location, soldier, where it is needed, assigned to my Support Operations in Iraq. Like most deployed Soldiers, before it is needed. Team. I have had the pleasure of seeing Wirth is sacrificing time away from young specialists and sergeants, step up his family to help bring stability and It is said that the logistical tail to the microphone, and professionally security to the Iraqi people. His wife, wags the fighting dog. Can you brief, know, their specific tactical logistic Lisa and children, Miranda, Anthony speak to that? function. Watch an ammo specialist II(TJ), McKenna, and Delaney support coordinate with a transportation sergeant him in his service. So many adages, quotes, or motto’s on the movement of ammunition. This What is the 13th Sustainment exist today attesting to that very is high level logistics, a skill, these Command (Expeditionary)? Aside from the obvious dangers statement, all of which are true. young soldiers have grown, embraced, and arm the incoming forces is on the of combat, what are the biggest “Nothing happens until something and made successful on a daily basis. It Logistical professionals of the 13th SC challenges you face in terms of moves.” “Don’t know what this is truly an inspiration. The 13th SC (E), just as our title states, (E). The efforts of this team has been logistics stuff is…but I sure need is the single manager for the logistical immeasurable as they have literally built achieving your mission? some.” The bottom line is Logistics What has been your greatest sustainment of all forces under the Multi- Forward Operating Bases, which did not alone cannot win a battle or war, but success while deployed? National Corps-Iraq. Every tactical exist prior to May, expanded Fuel farms, without logistics, we sure will lose logistical function; Arm, Fuel, Fix, Man, increased ammunitions stocks, rations, The Tyranny of distance and dispersion. it. The modern day logistician is an Fantastic. These soldiers, volunteers Move, Sustain, Combat Health Support, water production, storage, equipment. Anticipating and getting the RIGHT integral part of the combined arms all, have made a difference each and Contracting is somehow planned, Every single tactical logistical function STUFF to the RIGHT LOCATION is team. every day. managed, synchronized, or executed has been impacted and increased because by the 13th SC (E) Support Operations of the efforts and professionalism of this staff, one of our three Sustainment team. Their efforts are truly without Brigades or two Corps Support Groups precedent. A day of celebration assigned throughout the Iraqi Theater of Operations. Is the surge sustainable? What is your job with the 13th SC (E)? Very much so. An adage I like to use is “Bring a Gun to the Knife Fight.” For the Logistical support of the Surge, I am the 13th SC (E) Distribution that is exactly what the 13th SC(E) Management Center Support Operations Support Operations Staff, along with Officer. In the civilian market, along our Sustainment Brigades are doing. with the more than 120 soldiers assigned Every logistical enabler available to us; to the DMC, I am a supply chain, we are bringing to bear to support our distribution, and warehousing manager forces. This includes incorporating the for the nine separate sites (Hubs) of the capabilities of Army Materiel Command, 13th SC (E) sites located throughout the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Iraqi Zone of Operations. I work with power of the technology in passing of Soldiers and leaders on the Support information for rapid re-supply of all Operations Team who all specialize in commodities and equipment. commodity management, warehousing, and transportation operations from How do you measure success? wholesale; all the way back to the National Inventory Control Point Measuring success for a logistician is simple. in Germany, the states; down to the We are the silent hero’s…we remain hero’s retail delivery of commodities from when there is continued silence for any geographic hubs located throughout Iraq logistical requirements on the battlefield. to the fox hole. If the maneuver commander does not have What role is the 13th SC (E) any sort of operational decrement due to logistics because we have anticipated, playing in supporting the recent delivered in all tactical logistics functions, surge? then the Logisticians have been successful. That is exactly what the soldiers of the 13th A. WItte Sgt. Gary Photo by Staff Right now, the surge is the 13th SC (E). 1SC(E) DMC Support Operations have Army Chaplain (Capt.) Bill Robinson of Youngstown, Ohio, chaplain of the 260th Corps Support Battalion delivers the sermon for the sunrise Easter service held April 8 at the House of Abraham, a historic site in the ancient city of Ur, at Camp Adder in Tallil, Iraq. More than 200 servicemembers and civilian employees at the base The mission of setting the conditions to done as a part of OIF. attended the service. receive, equip, fuel, feed, 13th SC(E) Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Michael J. Terry ANACONDA TIMESChief of the Anaconda Consolidated Press Center Staff Writers Anaconda Times is authorized for publication by the Maj. Jay Adams Staff Sgt. Felix Figueroa Spc. Kyndal Hernandez 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) for the LSA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Anaconda community. The contents of the Anaconda Times 210th MPAD Commander Staff Sgt. Angela Archie Pfc. Robert H. Baumgartner Maj. Kirk R. Slaughter [email protected] are unofficial and are not to be considered the official views [email protected] of, or endorsed by, the U.S.