The 1297th CSSB Receives Outstanding Unit Award from MOAA
The 1297th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion received Maryland’s “Outstanding Unit” award by Military Officers Association of America during a ceremony on Feb. 24, in Havre de Grace, Md. The unit successfully accomplished its wartime mission with supreme professionalism and skill which significantly contributed to the combat operations in Afghanistan.
“This is our way of recognizing units in the community whether they are active, guard or reserve,” said Maj. John Whitman USAF (Ret), president of the Maryland counsel of chapters of MOAA. “This unit had an outstanding service record in a combat environment.”
In May of 2011, the 1297th CSSB deployed to Afghanistan to provide sustainment support on an area basis to U.S. and specified Coalition Forces in Regional Command-South (RC-S) for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 2011-2012, by enabling further operational reach to disrupt insurgent forces, secure population areas, build national security capability, and support the growth of governance and development in order
to build a stable Afghanistan.
“I accept this award on behalf to the Soldiers and NCOs of the 1297th, you made it happen,” said Lt. Col. Charles M. Blomquist, commander of the 1297th. “I am new to command. I have just taken over from Lt. Col. Weedon Gallagher and I wish he could have been here today, I know he is proud of all you accomplished during your deployment.”
The 1297th CSSB sustained the synchronization of all commodities flowing into and out of Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in support of all combat arms units throughout the RC-S, RC- RS-W regions. The 1297th CSSB provided superior sustainment support to over 70 units. The 1297th CSSB managed seven subordinate units from the active and reserve components.
The 1297th CSSB executed over 500 successful Combat Logistics Patrols (CLP), traveling over 500,000 tactical miles which translates to 3,500 drive hours. These movements required the 1297th CSSB to schedule and supervise the upload, haul, and delivery of over 40,000 customer supplies worth $70 million to various points within RC-S. The 1297th CSSB's management skills enabled the successful transportation of these supplies with minimal damage and without a single loss of life.
Within 10 short months the battalion improved jurisdiction wide CLP operations by incorporating sustainment operations as well as demand-based CLP missions. In the process, they reduced the average size of each convoy from 5O to 25 vehicles and increased the frequency of deliveries to their customer units from 10 days to 7 days. This concept was defined by National Afghan Trucking-centric planning which contributed to the counterinsurgency by employing more Afghan drivers and helping build the
local economy.
The 1297th CSSB maintained constant operational responsibility for the largest multi-class Supply Support Activity (SSA) in Afghanistan in support of OEF. Responsibility and oversight included the receipt, storage and issue of 12,000 lines on the Authorized Stockage List (ASL), valued at nearly $55 million. The SSA ensured over $175 million worth of equipment retrograded out of theater. In addition, the 1297th CSSB's Central Issue Facility (CIF) managed 2,300 lines of uniforms and other Class II valued
at over $26.1 million. The CIF provided superb customer service to 15 BCTs
consisting of over 400 supply accounts and 27,000 customers. The CIF
processed 215,000 transactions valued at over $70 million. The 1297th CSSB's CIF also developed a training program for the ANA partnership that will be used as a model for future partnership training programs contributing to stabilizing Afghanistan.
Another critical and important element of the 1297th CSSB's mission and contribution to the war effort was the planning, development, execution and oversight of contracted initiatives to include massive infrastructure projects on KAF. Some of these contracts provided the local Afghan population with jobs, helping to empower them and rebuild their nation after decades of war. Soldiers from the 1297th CSSB performed duties for
31 contracts totaling in excess of $39 million.
In addition to providing heavy lift support throughout RC-S, the battalion partnered with the ANA 205th Kandak and trained them on logistical operations. The battalion's efforts were instrumental in developing ANA logistical independence. The battalion partnered with the 205th on seven convoys traveling to remote ANA bases located all over RC-S. These convoys successfully delivered over 450 supply trucks containing all different classes of supply and 200 pieces of rolling stock without taking any casualties. The training focused on training the trainer, leaving the ANA NCOs with a valuable internal training capability and causing them to take leadership roles within their formations. The
training model used by the 1297th CSSB was distributed to other units within RC-S and then further to other RCs within Afghanistan.
MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.
The 1297th CSSB Receives Outstanding Unit Award from MOAA
The 1297th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion received Maryland’s “Outstanding Unit” award by Military Officers Association of America during a ceremony on Feb. 24, in Havre de Grace, Md. The unit successfully accomplished its wartime mission with supreme professionalism and skill which significantly contributed to the combat operations in Afghanistan.
“This is our way of recognizing units in the community whether they are active, guard or reserve,” said Maj. John Whitman USAF (Ret), president of the Maryland counsel of chapters of MOAA. “This unit had an outstanding service record in a combat environment.”
In May of 2011, the 1297th CSSB deployed to Afghanistan to provide sustainment support on an area basis to U.S. and specified Coalition Forces in Regional Command-South (RC-S) for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 2011-2012, by enabling further operational reach to disrupt insurgent forces, secure population areas, build national security capability, and support the growth of governance and development in order
to build a stable Afghanistan.
“I accept this award on behalf to the Soldiers and NCOs of the 1297th, you made it happen,” said Lt. Col. Charles M. Blomquist, commander of the 1297th. “I am new to command. I have just taken over from Lt. Col. Weedon Gallagher and I wish he could have been here today, I know he is proud of all you accomplished during your deployment.”
The 1297th CSSB sustained the synchronization of all commodities flowing into and out of Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in support of all combat arms units throughout the RC-S, RC- RS-W regions. The 1297th CSSB provided superior sustainment support to over 70 units. The 1297th CSSB managed seven subordinate units from the active and reserve components.
The 1297th CSSB executed over 500 successful Combat Logistics Patrols (CLP), traveling over 500,000 tactical miles which translates to 3,500 drive hours. These movements required the 1297th CSSB to schedule and supervise the upload, haul, and delivery of over 40,000 customer supplies worth $70 million to various points within RC-S. The 1297th CSSB's management skills enabled the successful transportation of these supplies with minimal damage and without a single loss of life.
Within 10 short months the battalion improved jurisdiction wide CLP operations by incorporating sustainment operations as well as demand-based CLP missions. In the process, they reduced the average size of each convoy from 5O to 25 vehicles and increased the frequency of deliveries to their customer units from 10 days to 7 days. This concept was defined by National Afghan Trucking-centric planning which contributed to the counterinsurgency by employing more Afghan drivers and helping build the
local economy.
The 1297th CSSB maintained constant operational responsibility for the largest multi-class Supply Support Activity (SSA) in Afghanistan in support of OEF. Responsibility and oversight included the receipt, storage and issue of 12,000 lines on the Authorized Stockage List (ASL), valued at nearly $55 million. The SSA ensured over $175 million worth of equipment retrograded out of theater. In addition, the 1297th CSSB's Central Issue Facility (CIF) managed 2,300 lines of uniforms and other Class II valued
at over $26.1 million. The CIF provided superb customer service to 15 BCTs
consisting of over 400 supply accounts and 27,000 customers. The CIF
processed 215,000 transactions valued at over $70 million. The 1297th CSSB's CIF also developed a training program for the ANA partnership that will be used as a model for future partnership training programs contributing to stabilizing Afghanistan.
Another critical and important element of the 1297th CSSB's mission and contribution to the war effort was the planning, development, execution and oversight of contracted initiatives to include massive infrastructure projects on KAF. Some of these contracts provided the local Afghan population with jobs, helping to empower them and rebuild their nation after decades of war. Soldiers from the 1297th CSSB performed duties for
31 contracts totaling in excess of $39 million.
In addition to providing heavy lift support throughout RC-S, the battalion partnered with the ANA 205th Kandak and trained them on logistical operations. The battalion's efforts were instrumental in developing ANA logistical independence. The battalion partnered with the 205th on seven convoys traveling to remote ANA bases located all over RC-S. These convoys successfully delivered over 450 supply trucks containing all different classes of supply and 200 pieces of rolling stock without taking any casualties. The training focused on training the trainer, leaving the ANA NCOs with a valuable internal training capability and causing them to take leadership roles within their formations. The
training model used by the 1297th CSSB was distributed to other units within RC-S and then further to other RCs within Afghanistan.
MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.