Over the year of 2018, the Lifeliners of 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., provided tireless sustainment support to both stateside and overseas assets.
From hurricane support and strengthening the U.S. border, to overseas operations in Afghanistan, Lifeliner Soldiers have played paramount roles in the accomplishment of missions all over the globe.
Soldiers of the brigade began 2018 with a warfighter exercise in February, where they practiced implementing sustainment operations, working to accomplish their missions.
Also in February, Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, providing unwavering coverage from enemy rocket, artillery and mortar for military sites and critical assets deployed in the Middle East.
The month of March, Missy Eckenberg, Paducah’s Rotary district governor, and her family were invited to a tandem jump camp at the Clarksville Regional Airport with the Golden Knights further strengthening the partnership between the city of Paducah, Kentucky, and Lifeliners.
Lifeliner Soldiers ensured they were not only physically prepared to deployed, but also mentally ready in April, by participating in Lifeliner Academy, a weeklong pre-deployment training block developed to arm Soldiers mentally and emotionally to deploy.
Also in April, Lifeliners participated in a successful Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention Stand Down, complete with speeches made by former sexual harassment and assault victims. The 716th Military Police Detachment, 716th Military Police Battalion, welcomed back the 550th Firefighter Detachment from their nine-month deployment to Romania and Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
May was a busy month for all within the 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde., as brigade Soldiers made final preparations for deployment. Also, the 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde., conducted its change of command, saying farewell to Lt. Col. Gina SanNicolas, after 24 months of command, and welcoming in Lt. Col. Eric Anderson. The 716th MPs furthered their partnership with West Creek Middle School, giving 38 students a tour of the Brig. Gen. Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum, as well as a tour of their headquarters and a lunchtime celebration of their scholastic achievements.
The 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde. held their color casing ceremony, May 21, at Hangar 3, on Fort Campbell. The ceremony signaled the brigade’s readiness to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. They replaced the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade’s headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, as part of a regular rotation.
“Our Soldiers are highly trained and ready to embark on another rendezvous with destiny,” said Col. Stanley Sliwinski, former commander of the 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde. “They will thrive in providing the oversight and execution of all sustainment operations, in both remote and austere environments, for all U.S. and coalition forces, throughout the country of Afghanistan.”
On June 10, Soldiers of the 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde., arrived on the ground in Bagram Airfield, ready to integrate and get started on providing sustainment support to elements throughout the Combined Joint Operational Area-Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Soldiers of 129th CSSB supported the Cogioba District Boy Scouts of America by providing them with hydration and shade elements.
On July 1, Soldiers of the 101st Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade held their color uncasing ceremony in Bagram Airfield, officially marking their change of command and acceptance of responsibility.
During the ceremony, Sliwinski thanked Col. Jeff Britton, commander of the 3rd Inf. Div. Sust. Bde., as well as Command Sgt. Maj. Toby Grisham, and all the Soldiers of 3rd Inf. Div. Sust. Bde. for their aid in facilitating a smooth transition between the two brigades, as well as their service while deployed.
Mid-July saw another great accomplish for the Lifeliner Brigade. On July 11, more than 200 Soldiers assigned to the 101st RSSB, along with members of the 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, a Montana National Guard unit, donned their combat patches during a time-honored ceremony.
“The combat patch that you don today represents the brotherhood, the lifelong commitment, the service, and the sacrifices of fallen sustainers who paid the ultimate price to get us where we are today,” said Sliwinski as he presided over the ceremony.
After receiving their combat patches, Lifeliner Soldiers stayed busy during the rest of July and into the month of August, providing excellent sustainment support, sending junior leaders to the Basic Leadership Course, conducting M4 rifle and M9 pistol ranges, and even holding a commemorative 5K run with the Polish army.
The brigade also held its deployment’s first noncommissioned officer induction ceremony, honoring those new leaders into the fold of the noncommissioned officer.
The end of August brought not only the change of seasons, but a change of command as well. On Aug. 26, Sliwinski relinquished command of the 101st RSSB to Col. Stephanie Barton during a change of command ceremony attended by NATO Resolute Support Mission and U.S Forces-Afghanistan Soldiers and friends of the brigade.
Barton’s message to the brigade was short and sweet.
“I am humbled to be your commander and look forward to continuing the successes of this great organization,” she said.
Under the leadership of their new commander, Lifeliner Soldiers did not miss a beat and continued to provide great sustainment support throughout the CJOA-A, while also maintaining their training and readiness requirements.
September kicked off with numerous Soldier promotions. Meanwhile, back home at Fort Campbell, Soldiers of the brigade participated in a 101st Abn. Div. and Fort Campbell Army Community Service-Survivor Outreach Services Military Survivor Appreciation Week honoring of those who have fallen since Sept. 11, 2001.
The end of September brought more somber news, as nearly 200 Soldiers, and more than 100 trucks including heavy transport trucks, primarily assigned to 74th Composite Truck Company, 101st Abn. Div. Sus. Bde., 101st Abn. Div., departed Fort Campbell for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to assist in Hurricane Florence response and recovery efforts.
For some of the Soldiers, the mission was personal, beyond just helping the American people. Pvt. Robert Demons, motor transport operator with 74th CTC, grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. His mother and extended Family still live in the area.
“It feels great going back home to help people,” Demons said. “I’m excited to go back as an Army Soldier and show my Family what I’m doing for my country.”
In October, Lifeliners started off the fall season celebrating National Hispanic Heritage month, as well as renewing their pledge to the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, solidifying their resolve to take care of battle buddies with an early morning 5K run. Back at Fort Campbell, the 716th MPs held their Military Police Ball at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville.
November saw Lifeliners at Fort Campbell respond to another call from the nation, this time in the form of a stateside deployment to the Texas-Mexico border, in support of Operation Faithful Patriot.
Numerous elements from the 101st Abn. Div. Sus. Bde. were chosen for the mission including the 74th CTC, the 227th Composite Supply Company, and the 372nd Inland Cargo Transport Company, all from the 129th CSSB, as well as the 887th Engineer Support Company, 326th Engineer Battalion. Soldiers were deployed to provide military support to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the southern border of the U.S.
As the holidays approached Lifeliner Soldiers continued to uphold the high standards of performance and sustainment support they are known for. As the new year dawns, Lifeliners push to accomplish their missions, sustain the fight and look forward to returning to their Families back home.