The 3rd Sustainment Brigade cased its unit colors last week during a formal ceremony on Cottrell Field. About 250 Providers are deploying to Kandahar Province in Afghanistan.
After Col. Ron Novack led the color guard forward to the reviewing stand, he reported to Col. John Hort, 3rd Infantry Division deputy commanding general-rear. Hort then ordered the Providers’ commander to case his unit’s colors.
Novack was assisted by Provider Command Sgt. Maj. Forbes Daniels in rolling up then casing the colors. Afterward, Novack ordered the rest of the formation to parade rest, though he, Daniels and the color Guard remained at attention.
“This is our third colors-casing ceremony on Cottrell Field in three weeks,” Hort said after first welcoming soldiers, friends and family members who braved the cool temperature and gusty winds. “And this is the fifth time this brigade has cased its colors in the last decade.”
The 3rd ID’s 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team deployed in late October, and the 1st ABCT deployed earlier this month. With 3rd ID headquarters battalion and other units already deployed to theater, Hort noted that 3rd ID unit patches are visible all over an area the size of Georgia and South Carolina.
In his remarks, Novack told guests his unit would sustain and support Army, National Guard and reserve units in Regional Command South, Southwest and West. He said more than one-fourth of the soldiers deploying had deployed at least once already.
“We’ll be providing food, fuel, water, maintenance support, spare parts and transportation for three regional commands,” Novack said. “If we fail, then our war fighters are going to fail (for lack of logistical support).”
He spoke with confidence about his unit’s experience, saying his soldiers know how to deploy and how to support troops who deploy. He admitted there is some euphoria with every deployment, but said even though they are deploying to a different environment with different challenges, his unit’s mission still is the same — provide sustainment for the units within their regions of operation.
In addition to active-duty soldiers from the 3rd ID and other units, he reiterated his brigade will work with civilian contractors as well as National Guard and reserve soldiers.
He said a combat sustainment support battalion with the Puerto Rican National Guard will be there when they arrive, and another CSSB with the Montana National Guard will arrive in December.
“This is a total Army effort,” Novack said. “It’s a team effort as we go into Afghanistan.”
Following the ceremony and a brief interview, Novack played with his daughters, Taylor, 4, and Emma, 1. While carrying the youngest in his arms, he said his oldest daughter was born during his last deployment.
The 3rd Sustainment Brigade headquarters will be deployed for nine months. Like any soldier about to be separated from his family, Novack said he already is looking forward to redeployment, when he’ll be reunited with his wife and daughters.