CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – First Lieutenant Peter Curtin, an operations officer assigned to 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, sprints the last mile of an Army Physical Fitness Test at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Iraq, Aug. 2, 2011. Curtin, a native of Boston, Mass., completed the APFT as a prerequisite for the battalion’s “Spur Ride”. The Fort Hood trooper participated in the cavalry tradition to earn the privilege of wearing silver spurs and being inducted into the Order of the Spur.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Terence Ewings, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Absher from Dallas, Tex. an Operations Noncommissioned Officer for United States Army Africa Command Contingency Control Point helps set up the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter Aug. 7. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class William Patterson)

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

Join the U.S. Army Africa conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmyAfrica

Master Sgt. Jesse Spainhour, a crew chief from the Tennessee Air Guard, pulls a pallet of equipment from the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group onto a C-17 Globemaster III at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 29, 2017 in preparation for Hurricane Harvey rescue efforts in Texas. More than 40 Airmen from the Kentucky and Mississippi Air National Guard are deploying to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where they will rapidly establish airfield, aeromedical evacuation and cargo operations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Sergeant James Quatro, right, a military policeman assigned to 105th Military Police Company, Task Force Shield, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, instructs Iraqi Police assigned to the 2nd and 4th Emergency Response Battalions, how to stand properly when firing their AK47 rifles. Quatro, a native of Rochester, N.Y., also trained the policemen on how to assemble and disassemble the weapon, and basic rifle marksmanship.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel Turner, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD – N)

Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW) based at Travis Air Force Base, CA, deploy to Central African Republic (CAR) for humanitarian support, on December 13, 2013. AFRICOM is beginning to transport African troops from Burundi to CAR using US Air Force C-17 aircraft operating out of Entebbe as part of a larger effort of African nations supporting the African crisis in CAR. C-17s will to fly about a dozen missions from Entebbe over a week time frame, transporting a Burundian light infantry battalion of about 850 men and equipment from Bujumbura to Bangui in CAR. The C-17’s are staged at Entebbe airport as a convenient mid-way point with the proper facilities to service the aircraft and support aircrews. (Released - U.S. Air Force Photograph/Heide Couch)

ORLANDO, Fla. - In today’s complex and high tempo operational environment, America’s Army Reserve to rapidly deploy highly trained units to any corner of the world with the personnel and equipment they have on hand. With multiple contingencies and numerous potential threats capable of employing cutting-edge tactics with modern military equipment, the Army Reserve looks to its premiere sustainers such the 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) to lead, train and equip its 10,000-Soldier command.

In taking the first, major step toward achieving this vital mission, the 143d ESC conducted a Mission Training Brief Feb. 2-3, 2018, at the command’s headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

“An MTB promotes cohesion through collaboration,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Walter L. Flinn, commander, 332nd Transportation Terminal Battalion. “It offers a forum for commanders to share their successes and shortcomings while seeking and offering guidance among their fellow leaders.”

Led by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Deborah L. Kotulich, commanding general, 143d ESC, the MTB featured dozens of senior leaders from the company to the ESC level whose wealth of knowledge and experience offered solutions to a myriad of logistical challenges.

“The expectation of having several months to bring your Soldiers up to speed at a pre-mobilization station is coming to an end,” Kotulich announced to dozens of battalion and brigade commanders and command sergeants majors huddled in the conference room. “We must assume that we will mobilize at a moment’s notice, and it’s our responsibility that we physically and mentally prepare every Soldier for the rigors of combat through realistic training.”

Kotulich expects every downtrace unit to spend less time in classrooms and more time in the field. This focus on individual and collective readiness stems from the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s Ready Force X initiative.

“Ready Force X is the Army Reserve’s answer to the [U.S.] Army’s demand for properly equipped and highly trained Soldiers who can rapidly deploy into combat,” said U.S. Army Col. Wanda Williams, commander, 641st Regional Sustainment Group. “Almost half of the 143d ESC’s downtrace units must meet the strict criteria established by Ready Force X’s “Fight Fast” mentality. This MTB offers precious time for commanders to obtain timely information needed to properly execute the numerous requirements to maintain a constantly high state of readiness.”

While Kotulich entrusts her fellow officers to formulate plans and carry out the Army Reserve’s “Fight Fast” initiative, she relies on her command sergeants major to refine the tasks required to carry out their commanding general’s intent.

“There are 43 individual training requirements that every unit must complete before reporting to a pre-mobilization site,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos O. Lopes, command sergeant major, 143d ESC. “As NCOs, we are responsible for providing effective training that ensures every Soldier has mastered these fundamental skills that directly determine one’s survivability on the battlefield.”

“NCOs can only do this if they understand their commanders’ intent,” added Command Sgt. Maj. Kenyatta S. Stamps, command sergeant major, 787th Combat Support and Sustainment Battalion. “The MTB allows us to hear those intentions firsthand and develop effective techniques and tactics to achieve them.”

These techniques and tactics encompass a variety of tasks that enhance speed, agility and sustained readiness at the individual, team and unit level. From warrior drills to medical readiness, commanders must meticulously manage finite time and resources to crystallize the Army Reserve’s strategic vision and implement the 143d ESC’s operational mission.

“Ready Force X is about leadership, energy and execution,” said Flinn. “Commanders must own the responsibility for readiness. Establishing an open dialog among senior leaders remains paramount to understanding not only what we do but how we do it.”

With more than half of the 143d ESC falls under the Ready Force X umbrella, every unit and Soldier must face the challenges if they are to reap the awards of transforming America’s Army Reserve into the most lethal and capable federal reserve force in U.S. history.

“America demands highly trained and proficient Soldiers, and the Army Reserve is blessed to have motivated men and women ready to endure the hardships inherent in armed conflict,” said Williams. “That’s why I tell my Soldiers, ‘Don’t worry about the names. Just be ready. Be ready now!”

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, 143d ESC

EAST CHINA SEA (May 9, 2020) Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships USS Patriot (MCM 7), USS Pioneer (MCM 9), and USS Chief (MCM 14) conduct a mine warfare training exercise. Pioneer, part of Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response platform for contingency operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Irving Garcia)

Four members of the Bismarck-based 1919th Contingency Contracting Team were recognized for their overseas service during a Freedom Salute ceremony Dec. 7 at Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck. Soldiers of the highly specialized unit recently returned from a yearlong deploment to Afghanistan and other areas of Southwest Asia. The Freedom Salute campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history, designed to publicly acknowledge Army Guard Soldiers and those who supported them during missions in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Zach Schuster/Released)

For more on the North Dakota National Guard, check out:

Website: www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil

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Copyright information: www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil/news/pressroom/Pages/Copyright.aspx

These are screenshots from contingency, a mission in Call of Duty - Modern Warfare 2, click the link below to see a 3D slideshow.

www.flickr.com/photos/57605784@N06/sets/72157629307410737...

Master Sgt. Joaquim Chacon, 571st Contingency Response Group based out of Travis Air Force Base, Ca, pulls on a chain to secure a vehicle inside a C-17 Globemaster III in Rwanda, Africa Jan. 19, 2014. U.S. forces will transport a total number of 850 Rwandan soldiers and more than 1000 tons of equipment into the Central African Republic to aid French and African Union operations against militants during this three week-long operation. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

Doing the heavy lifting.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION K1, Iraq – A recovery vehicle from 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, lifts and loads a pickup truck during the first stages of a base transfer mission at Contingency Operating Location K1, Kirkuk province, Iraq, July 22, 2011. U.S. forces vacated and signed over COL K1 to Iraqi Security Forces, who plan to use the center to continue training Iraqi Security Forces members.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Strayer, 109th MPAD, USD – N)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – An Iraqi policeman defeats attackers during a martial arts demonstration as part of a graduation ceremony at the Mosul Public Service Academy in Mosul, Iraq, June 12, 2011. Newly graduated policemen showed top Iraqi leaders their readiness to join the police force by demonstrating combative skills and crime scene investigation techniques.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel Turner, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

Master Sgt. Michael Thornton, Personnel Contingency Operations team chief, takes a break and talks with members of the Royal Malaysian Air Force after a community service project at a retirement home for Cope Taufan, Tasek Gelugor, Malaysia, June 13, 2014. The community service event provides opportunities for Malaysian and U.S. forces to give back to the community that is hosting Cope Taufan 2014. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt Andrew Jackson / Released)

Air Force Master Sgt. Paul Edwards of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group establishes satellite communications for the Joint Operations Center at Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 5, 2014, in support of Operation United Assistance. More than 80 Kentucky Air Guardsmen stood up an Intermediate Staging Base at the airport that will funnel humanitarian supplies and equipment into West Africa as part of the international effort to fight Ebola. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)

Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group coordinate with higher headquarters to control the airflow of simulated disaster-relief supplies into MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Ill., on Aug. 7, 2013, as part of Exercise Gateway Relief, a U.S. Transportation Command-directed earthquake-response scenario. The coordination is conducted from a portable structure called a HELAMS, which is short for Hard-sided Expandable Lightweight Air Mobile Shelter. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer/Released)

Dismantling at dusk.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION K1, Iraq – Specialist Richard Baggerly, left, and Pfc. Cody Saenz, both combat engineers with Company C, Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, work into dusk dismantling the Light-weight Counter Mortar Radar system at Contingency Operating Location K1, Kirkuk province, Iraq, July 24, 2011. Soldiers worked throughout the day and into the evening hours to disconnect all non-essential electrical systems at the U.S.-controlled portion of COL K1 in preparation for the official transfer of the facility to Iraqi control.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Strayer, 109th MPAD, USD – N)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Sergeant Kevin Chapman, an infantryman and squad leader assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, leaves the Emergency Services Unit headquarters after a mission in Kirkuk, Iraq, July 16, 2011.

(Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert DeDeaux, PAO, 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N)

Master Sgt. Daniel Graham, 621st Contingency Response Squadron air traffic controller, boards a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Oct. 6, 2016. Graham is one of more than 30 Airmen, consisting of command and control, airfield assessment, aerial port, aircraft maintenance, contracting, and security forces, from the 621st Contingency Response Wing deploying to Port Au Prince International Airport, Haiti, in response to Hurricane Matthew. (Photo by A1C Zachary Martyn)

Bump, set, Speicher.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Soldiers of U.S. Division-North came together on the first day of 2011 to compete in friendly sporting events hosted at the Contingency Operating Base Speicher Main Gymnasium Jan. 1, 2011. During the Volleyball games, Soldiers jockeyed for position, spiked for points and broke a sweat in the heat of competition but did not leave out the traditional post-game hand shake as a sign of good sportsmanship. Many U.S. Division-North Soldiers serving at COB Speicher in support of Operation New Dawn, took a break from the busy routine of work and operations to participate in volleyball, dodge ball and basketball games organized especially for New Year’s Day.

(U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. David Strayer, 109th MPAD, USD-N PAO)

Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW) based at Travis Air Force Base, CA, deploy to Central African Republic (CAR) for humanitarian support, on December 13, 2013. AFRICOM is beginning to transport African troops from Burundi to CAR using US Air Force C-17 aircraft operating out of Entebbe as part of a larger effort of African nations supporting the African crisis in CAR. C-17s will to fly about a dozen missions from Entebbe over a week time frame, transporting a Burundian light infantry battalion of about 850 men and equipment from Bujumbura to Bangui in CAR. The C-17’s are staged at Entebbe airport as a convenient mid-way point with the proper facilities to service the aircraft and support aircrews. (Released - U.S. Air Force Photograph/Heide Couch)

This beautiful bowl is by Israeli ceramicist Marcelle Klein from her 'contingency' line. I love how they reflect the texture and feel of nature despite a smooth marble-like exterior and abstracted organic shape. Simple and clean yet evocative and dreamy. My favorite. Read more about Israeli ceramics and art at www.designistdream.com

USF was named the "Most Fabulous Contingent" of 2015 by the SF Pride judges. Get involved: www.usfca.edu/clubsorgs/lgbtq_caucus/

Rare visitor at Orebro-Bofors Airport. A cargo charter flight to Baku with supplies from Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division take cover after firing a 120mm mortar round during a combined arms live fire exercise at Destiny Range, May 28, 2011. Field artillerymen, mortar men, scouts and forward observers honed their skills on their weapon systems to increase proficiency.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel Turner, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group, augmented by troops from the active-duty Air Force and Air National Guard units in multiple states, dowload relief supplies from aircraft around the clock at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the wake of Hurricane Maria Oct. 6, 2017. The unit’s Airmen established an aerial port of debarkation upon arrival here Sept. 23, and have processed more than 7.2 million pounds of cargo and humanitarian aid for distribution in the first three weeks of the operation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Dale Greer)

Soldiers of U.S. Army Africa Contingency Command Post go over a battle task for a scenario with a South African National Defense Force soldier during a CCP exercise in preparation for Shared Accord 13, a joint peace keeping and humanitarian exercise. The intent for the CCP exercise was to familiarize the SANDF with the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters capabilities so U.S. and South African soldiers will have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities as a CJTF during SA13. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Terysa M. King)

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

Join the U.S. Army Africa conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmyAfrica

A qualified ISR soldier.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION K1, Iraq – Lt. Col. Samuel Calkins, commander, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, from Ft. Riley, Kan., congratulates Distinguished Honor Graduate Sgt. Ali Ibrahim Mosul of the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Battalion, 12th IA Division, for earning the highest grade point average at the inaugural training class of the ISR Academy, during a graduation ceremony at the 12th IA Div. Headquarters Jan. 5. Soldiers of Company A, 1st BSTB, 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div. served as cadre for the military intelligence training academy teaching Iraqi soldiers to collect and analyze military intelligence. “All of the instructors we had were amazing,” said Mosul. “They made it easy by breaking everything down for us and making sure we all understood before moving on.”

(U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Alyxandra McChesney, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N)

The sun sets behind Soldiers from the 239th Multi-Role Bridge Company, from Granite City, Ill., working to clear debris from the Qayyarah Bridge, before being able to remove the temporary bridge that has served the Qayyarah people for nearly four years, June 20.

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Photo by Spc. Dustin Gautney

Date: 06.20.2010

Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, IQ

Related Photos: dvidshub.net/r/jfweo6

A paratrooper assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, conducts live fire training on Fort Bragg, Sept. 9, 2013. The White Falcons, currently part of the Global Response Force, conducted a two-week intensive training cycle designed to reinforce combat skills for the nation’s airborne assault-capable, contingency unit.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull)

Spc. Richard Libby, an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, conducts live fire training on Fort Bragg, Sept. 9, 2013. The White Falcons, currently part of the Global Response Force, conducted a two-week intensive training cycle designed to reinforce combat skills for the nation’s airborne assault-capable, contingency unit.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull)

Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW) based at Travis Air Force Base, CA, deploy to Central African Republic (CAR) for humanitarian support, on December 13, 2013. AFRICOM is beginning to transport African troops from Burundi to CAR using US Air Force C-17 aircraft operating out of Entebbe as part of a larger effort of African nations supporting the African crisis in CAR. C-17s will to fly about a dozen missions from Entebbe over a week time frame, transporting a Burundian light infantry battalion of about 850 men and equipment from Bujumbura to Bangui in CAR. The C-17’s are staged at Entebbe airport as a convenient mid-way point with the proper facilities to service the aircraft and support aircrews. (Released - U.S. Air Force Photograph/Heide Couch)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Captain Sean Frankum, executive officer for Battery B, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, reads map coordinates during a land navigation skills test at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2011. As part of the battalion’s “Spur Ride”, Frankum, a native of Dahlonega, Ga., and other Fort Hood Soldiers ruck-marched to various checkpoints during the skills test, which was designed to mentally and physically challenge the cavalry troopers.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Terence Ewings, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

Aerial porters from the Kentucky Air National Guardâs 123rd Contingency Response Group off-load the unitâs gear from a Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III at Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 4, 2014, in support of Operation United Assistance. More than 70 Kentucky Airmen arrived with the gear to stand up an Intermediate Staging Base at the airport that will funnel humanitarian supplies and equipment into West Africa as part of the international effort to fight Ebola. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)

U.S. Navy Sailors with 3rd Medical Battalion (Med. Bn.), 3rd Marine Logistics Group (MLG), search for an exit wound on a simulated casualty’s back at the Medical Skills Training Center, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, October 29, 2020. Sailors with 3rd Med. Bn. participated in an Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force training evolution to practice their combat lifesaving skills in an expeditionary environment. 3rd MLG, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is a forward deployed combat unit that serves as III Marine Expeditionary Force’s comprehensive logistics and combat service support backbone for operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Harvey)

The dive team waits just in case... Tacoma Freedom Fair's crew is just tops!

Iraqi Soldiers learn about mortar techniques.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – Noncommissioned officers from the Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division - North, instruct Iraqi Soldiers from the Light Battery, 18th Iraqi Army Brigade, on U.S. mortar-firing techniques at Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, Sept. 18, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. James McGregor, 1-8 CAV, 2nd AAB, 1st Cav. Div., USD – N)

Thank You.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Major General David Perkins, commander, 4th Infantry Division and U.S. Division-North, speaks to “Thunderhorse,” 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, during its end-of-tour award ceremony at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2011. Perkins presented awards and coins to Soldiers, and thanked them for supporting Operation New Dawn.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kandi Huggins, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N)

Pallets of water are among the 7.2 million pounds of cargo processed through an aerial port of debarkation at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 6, 2017, following Hurricane Maria. The port is staffed by 39 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group, augmented by Airmen from the active-duty Air Force and Air National Guard units in multiple states. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Dale Greer)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – Captain Louis-Philippe Hammond, (left), commander of Company C, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division – North, speaks to Shawkat Kareem, Sheikh of Septia, Iraq, about the canal project outside of Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, Aug. 29, 2011. Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, U.S. Division – North, provided security during the month-long project.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Quentin Johnson, 2nd AAB, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

Master Sgt. Jermey Yates, a security forces team member with the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group, drives a disaster assessment vehicle near a C-130H aircraft assigned to the Texas Air National Guard's 136th Airlift Wing at NAS JRB Fort Worth, in advance of the Coastal Bend Regional Evacuation Exercise (CBREE) at Corpus Christi International Airport, in Corpus Christi, Texas, on May 15, 2012. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Phil Fountain / Released)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Major Colin J. Williams, primary advisor to the 1st Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade, is greeted by key RGB leaders during a visit to the RGB headquarters in Kirkuk province, Aug. 24, 2011. Williams, a Binghamton, N.Y., native, works to maintain a positive relationship between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the United States Division – North in support of Operation New Dawn.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Crystal Hudson, 29th MPAD, USD-N PAO)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Captain Warren Sears, center left, commander, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, watches his Iraqi counterparts as they complete documentation during the transfer of Joint Security Station Iraqi Media Network to Iraqi Security Forces, July 15, 2011. Since deploying to U.S. Division – North last fall, Sears, a native of Pineville, La., and the other U.S. Soldiers at JSS IMN worked to advise, train and assist the Iraqi Security Forces who also occupy the remote installation.

(U.S. Army photo)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – After rescuing simulated hostages, Iraqi Special Operation Forces assigned to 7th Regional Commando Battalion, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, bring out a suspected criminal during Operation Iron Lion at Ghuzlani Warrior Training Center, June 27, 2011. Iraqi Security Forces demonstrated their tactical capabilities and their ability to work together to protect Ninewa province and the civilian population. As part of their Operation New Dawn mission, U.S. Soldiers assigned to 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, assisted the ISF in developing a sustainable force.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel Turner, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD – N)

Special Traffic Operations, Transportation and Traffic Management Plan Contingency Engineers during the operation of the cicLAvia Heart of Los Angeles Car-Free Open-Streets Bicycle Route, left side is the Los Angeles Times Headquarters, Metro Regional Connector A and E Lines Historic Downtown Core Broadway and 2nd Street Underground Light Rail Station, Perla on Broadway Apartment Condo Residential Homes and right side is a United States Federal Courthouse Annex, Right Lane Must Turn Right at 2nd Street West, the following other upcoming intersection crossing points for all automobile traffic crossings for bikes and vehicles on South Broadway at 3rd Street, 4th Street and 6th Street intersections open to all vehicles limited crossings and Ciclavia South Park Hub Southern Terminus at Figueroa Street and Venice Blvd. have traffic signal green lights and pedestrian crosswalk crossing white walking lights but closed crossing points due to Historic Downtown Core Farmer's Market on 5th Street located at Civic Center, Central City, Historic Downtown Core, Broadway Theatre District and Los Angeles Jewelry District Areas in Downtown Los Angeles, California 90012.

This is the continuous Ciclavia Heart of Los Angeles Car-Free Open-Streets Bicycle Route

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Soldiers’ session.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Soldiers of Company G, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, read a psychological first aid slide during resiliency training class held at the Contingency Operating Site Marez Memorial Dining Facility, Jan. 7, 2011. The deployed 4th AAB Soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, participated in the combat stress-related class during their lunch period. The training class was part of the “Rebooting Your Mind for the New Year” Program, intended to reach out to Soldiers who may need or are seeking behavioral help.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Terence Ewings, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

Cougar Creek Fire, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, WA, 2018

Photo by Kari Greer

Wishing a safe return.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Major General David Perkins, commander, 4th Infantry Division and U.S. Division-North, wishes a safe return to Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, during their end-of-tour award ceremony at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2011. Perkins encouraged them to maintain the same discipline and readiness, while redeploying, that kept them safe during their advise, train, and assist mission.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kandi Huggins, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Maj. Mohammad, executive officer of 1st Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, expresses his gratitude to Lt. Col. Robert Reynolds, commander, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, during a ceremony marking the transfer of Joint Security Station Heider to the Iraqi Army, April 1, 2011. Manned by U.S. and Iraqi forces since 2004, IA leaders now plan to base command and control units at JSS Heider to continue border security operations in Iraq.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Terence Ewings, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-N)

ORLANDO, Fla. - In today’s complex and high tempo operational environment, America’s Army Reserve to rapidly deploy highly trained units to any corner of the world with the personnel and equipment they have on hand. With multiple contingencies and numerous potential threats capable of employing cutting-edge tactics with modern military equipment, the Army Reserve looks to its premiere sustainers such the 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) to lead, train and equip its 10,000-Soldier command.

In taking the first, major step toward achieving this vital mission, the 143d ESC conducted a Mission Training Brief Feb. 2-3, 2018, at the command’s headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

“An MTB promotes cohesion through collaboration,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Walter L. Flinn, commander, 332nd Transportation Terminal Battalion. “It offers a forum for commanders to share their successes and shortcomings while seeking and offering guidance among their fellow leaders.”

Led by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Deborah L. Kotulich, commanding general, 143d ESC, the MTB featured dozens of senior leaders from the company to the ESC level whose wealth of knowledge and experience offered solutions to a myriad of logistical challenges.

“The expectation of having several months to bring your Soldiers up to speed at a pre-mobilization station is coming to an end,” Kotulich announced to dozens of battalion and brigade commanders and command sergeants majors huddled in the conference room. “We must assume that we will mobilize at a moment’s notice, and it’s our responsibility that we physically and mentally prepare every Soldier for the rigors of combat through realistic training.”

Kotulich expects every downtrace unit to spend less time in classrooms and more time in the field. This focus on individual and collective readiness stems from the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s Ready Force X initiative.

“Ready Force X is the Army Reserve’s answer to the [U.S.] Army’s demand for properly equipped and highly trained Soldiers who can rapidly deploy into combat,” said U.S. Army Col. Wanda Williams, commander, 641st Regional Sustainment Group. “Almost half of the 143d ESC’s downtrace units must meet the strict criteria established by Ready Force X’s “Fight Fast” mentality. This MTB offers precious time for commanders to obtain timely information needed to properly execute the numerous requirements to maintain a constantly high state of readiness.”

While Kotulich entrusts her fellow officers to formulate plans and carry out the Army Reserve’s “Fight Fast” initiative, she relies on her command sergeants major to refine the tasks required to carry out their commanding general’s intent.

“There are 43 individual training requirements that every unit must complete before reporting to a pre-mobilization site,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos O. Lopes, command sergeant major, 143d ESC. “As NCOs, we are responsible for providing effective training that ensures every Soldier has mastered these fundamental skills that directly determine one’s survivability on the battlefield.”

“NCOs can only do this if they understand their commanders’ intent,” added Command Sgt. Maj. Kenyatta S. Stamps, command sergeant major, 787th Combat Support and Sustainment Battalion. “The MTB allows us to hear those intentions firsthand and develop effective techniques and tactics to achieve them.”

These techniques and tactics encompass a variety of tasks that enhance speed, agility and sustained readiness at the individual, team and unit level. From warrior drills to medical readiness, commanders must meticulously manage finite time and resources to crystallize the Army Reserve’s strategic vision and implement the 143d ESC’s operational mission.

“Ready Force X is about leadership, energy and execution,” said Flinn. “Commanders must own the responsibility for readiness. Establishing an open dialog among senior leaders remains paramount to understanding not only what we do but how we do it.”

With more than half of the 143d ESC falls under the Ready Force X umbrella, every unit and Soldier must face the challenges if they are to reap the awards of transforming America’s Army Reserve into the most lethal and capable federal reserve force in U.S. history.

“America demands highly trained and proficient Soldiers, and the Army Reserve is blessed to have motivated men and women ready to endure the hardships inherent in armed conflict,” said Williams. “That’s why I tell my Soldiers, ‘Don’t worry about the names. Just be ready. Be ready now!”

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, 143d ESC

Col. Ronald Kapral, the 81st Brigade Combat Team commander, visits with Soldiers from the 81st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 81st BCT, during training Feb. 6 at Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq. About 2,400 Washington National Guardsmen and 900 California National Guardsmen deployed with the 81st BCT based out of Seattle in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October. They are scheduled to return home this summer.