Spartans Pave Way for Future Afghan Operations

Defend America News ^ | Feb 2, 2006 | Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro

[SandRat]

More than 30 Spartans from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., arrived in Afghanistan in January 2006. The advance team "torch party" efforts were focused on expediting the Spartans' upcoming relief-in-place of Combined Joint Task Force 76 soldiers. U.S. Army photo
Spartans Pave Way for Future Afghan Operations
Members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team "torch party" are tasked to expedite the Spartans' upcoming relief-in-place of Combined Joint Task Force 76 soldiers.
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro 3rd Brigade Combat Team FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, Feb. 2, 2006 — More than 30 Spartans from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, blazed their way into Operation Enduring Freedom last week. "It's a proud moment for the Spartan Brigade to put boots down in Afghanistan for its inaugural mission." U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Chris Bastien Members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team "torch party," which departed its home station of Fort Drum, N.Y., Jan. 21, joined colleagues from Combined Joint Task Force 76 in operating areas at Bagram Airfield, Forward Operating Base Salerno and Forward Operating Base Orgun-E. Torch and advance parties typically lay the groundwork for future major operations of the organizations they represent. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team advanced effort aims to expedite the Spartans' upcoming relief-in-place of Combined Joint Task Force 76 soldiers. "The main focus of the torch party was to prepare conditions for the reception, staging, onward movement and integration of the unit," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steve Anderson, the Spartan Brigade executive officer and head of the effort. "It's designed for [reception, staging, onward movement and integration]," said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Chris Bastien, the senior enlisted leader of the operation. "That's the premise of the torch party." Ultimately, Bastien added, the torch party aims "to give the brigade commander a picture of what his battlefield is beginning to look like, and also to show the (Task Force) Devil commander what's available to him through the relief in place." The Spartan advance team consisted largely of brigade administrative, logistics and maintenance, as well as special staff personnel. "It's primarily logistics and administrative functions," Anderson said of the torch party. "We have to ensure there's a plan in place to house and feed soldiers as they arrive, and to prepare them in financial, legal and administrative areas." U.S. Army Warrant Officer 2 John Homer, the brigade mobility officer, helped torch party personnel organize the strategic movement into theater. "It takes everyone working together to make it happen through planning and coordination. Everybody has to be in synch," Homer said, noting the close cooperation of Combined Joint Task Force 76 partners in the effort. Logisticians, administrators and maintenance soldiers comprised the bulk of the torch party, but others, including special staff members and fire support personnel, participated as well. Brigade civil affairs leaders arrived with the advanced team. According to U.S. Army Capt. Christopher J. Williams, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team assistant civil military officer, the early arrival facilitated key coordination among regional civil affairs operators. "What we're trying to accomplish on the torch party is to establish liaison with government as well as non-	More than 30 Spartans from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., arrived in Afghanistan in January 2006. The advance team "torch party" efforts were focused on expediting the Spartans' upcoming relief-in-place of Combined Joint Task Force 76 soldiers. U.S. Army photo governmental organizations, and also to stay abreast of the current projects plan for future operations," Williams said. "Basically the advantage is to lay the foundation for civil military operations so when the main body gets on the ground we have a plan in place to integrate the civil aspects to our military operations," Williams added. "This foundation and the subsequent transition about to take place are vital to maintaining our strong, prosperous relationship." Torch party leaders noted that structural differences between organizations pose certain challenges for rotating troops. "It's difficult because we're relieving a unit that's not like us," Anderson said. "We have significant MTOE differences unit by unit, so we can't necessarily make man-for-man replacements." "They don't have a brigade support battalion, a brigade special troops battalion or a cavalry unit, since they're not a brigade combat team," Bastien added. "So you can see why integration will pose some challenges." Structural differences aside, leaders said, participating U.S. soldiers, airmen and Marines share a commitment to excellence and each other that overcomes any procedural obstacles. Spartan leaders described the cooperation among incoming and currently operating organizations as superb."Everybody is very hard-working and I believe we're on track," Anderson said. "The 82nd guys have bent over backward to ensure the integration was as seamless as possible," Bastien said, pointing out that the efforts' success came in spite of important structural differences between the organizations. "It's been perfect," Anderson said of Combined Joint Task Force 76 support of the Spartan advanced mission, noting that five 3rd Brigade Combat Team soldiers in turn volunteered to donate blood of a rare type for the care of a Task Force Devil casualty. Torch party participants seem enthusiastic about their brigade's upcoming Operation Enduring Freedom mission. "It's a proud moment for the Spartan Brigade to put boots down in Afghanistan for its inaugural mission," Bastien said. "These 3rd [Brigade Combat Team] soldiers and the entire 10th Mountain Division really embody the Warrior Ethos." "Being a Spartan is one of the best experiences I've had in the military," Homer added. "I'm really proud to be part of the team."

[SandRat]

3rd BCT, 10th MTN DIV PING!!!!

[minus_273]

Spartans :)

[SandRat]

Maybe not this year but 5 years hence or 10 years hence who knows, maybe.

[SJSAMPLE]

GO ARMY!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTT