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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 12, 2008 - 2:11:01 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| SPC Latasha Jeeter learns from her counterpart SPC Justin Reese during their relief in place / transfer of authority (RIPTOA). SPC Jeeter works as an administrative assistant in the 165th CSSB's S-1 shop. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt., Aaron LeBlanc 165th CSSB, PAO) |
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - The Louisiana National Guard's 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) from Bossier City, LA arrived at Camp Taji late Wednesday evening, kicking off in earnest the process by which they will assume responsibility for the battlespace currently controlled by the Alabama National Guard's 1103rd CSSB.
"Being the command staff of the most robust sustainment battalion in theater means that our performance will be critical to the success of the overall mission in Iraq." said the 165th's commanding officer, LTC Randall "Beau" Bradford. "The 1103rd has done a tremendous job during their nine months here, and we plan to build on the foundation that they are leaving behind. They've given us the tools that we need for success; now it's up to us to use them." he said.
A native of Alexandria, LA, Bradford assumed command of the 165th in September of last year, after having commanded the 773rd Military Police Battalion where he served with distinction during the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief effort.
Roughly half of the 165th's Soldiers have deployed to Iraq at least once before, including the battalion's executive officer MAJ Randy Green. "The main thing that we have to bear in mind once we take over is that we're here for our subordinate companies," Green said to members of the battalion staff during a command group meeting. "We need to remember that they're our customers, and that we're here to provide them with everything they need to complete the mission."
Green's last trip to Iraq included working in a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) south of Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) where he worked closely with local national citizens and also served as a Military Transition Team Chief (MITT) with the 2/1 Iraqi Army Battalion.
Maintenance NCO SFC George Winham, is one of the few Soldiers that can claim three deployments with the 165th, the first being during Desert Storm when the unit was known as the 165th Transportation Battalion. "Compared to when I was here before, this is the lap of luxury." said Winham. "I can remember when we slept on the ground under canvas tents soaked in kerosene, or just in our trucks on the side of the road. Now we have real buildings with real beds, hot showers, flushing toilets, and air conditioning. It's like night and day."
The 1103rd will remain in place over the next few days to insure that the Soldiers of the 165th are entirely comfortable with their various posts and duties, after which they will pass the torch, and return to Alabama.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Lt. Col. Bradford is pictured at a command and staff meeting at Camp Taji on Sunday, April 13. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt., Aaron LeBlanc 165th CSSB, PAO) |
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