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72nd FA BDE regiment earns Supply Excellence Award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicole Dykstra
  • 72nd Field Artillery Brigade Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 322nd Logistics Support Regiment, from the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, issued and turned in more than 120 vehicles and coordinated hundreds of vehicles and weapons movement without any losses over the past year.

The brigade recently received the Chief of Staff of the Army Supply Excellence Award in the Unit Supply category for Army Reserve Tables of Distribution and Allowances Units as a result of their attention to detail and dedication to their mission. Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin presented the award to Sgt. 1st Class Emmanuel Huff, battalion logistics NCO in charge on behalf of the battalion. Austin also presented the award to the other winners.

"We could not have accomplished all that we have in Iraq and Afghanistan were it not for the countless, remarkable contributions made by the men and women of the logistics community," said Austin during the awards ceremony.

Austin was not alone in crediting his fellow logistics community with the accomplishments.

"It was a great feeling to find out we'd been selected," said Sgt. 1st Class Emmanuel Huff, battalion logistics NCO in charge. "We worked very hard - together, as a team - and I could not be prouder of this accomplishment."

The 1-322nd supports the mobilization training center on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which serves multi-component units deploying in support of ongoing contingency operations. Soldiers of the battalion maintained more than $16.5 million in supplies and property-book equipment while supporting thousands of active and reserve component units from all branches of the armed forces, said Lt. Col. Daniel Maroun, battalion commander. In addition, the battalion trains Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard personnel on Army accountability procedures including use of hand receipts.

"I am extremely proud of the battalion's supply section for earning the Army Chief of Staff Supply of Excellence Award. This tremendous accomplishment has set the section apart and recognizes them as the best in size and class within the entire Army," said Maroun.
 
"They have achieved this only through exceptional discipline in following standards, through exceptional hard and intelligent work, through exceptional leadership and teamwork, and through exceptional desire and perseverance."

To prepare for the competition, the 72nd FA BDE inspected the battalion in early 2011 under the Army Command Supply Discipline Program. Members of the brigade's logistics and property book sections reviewed the battalion's logistics facilities and documentation, including hand receipts, storage areas, property books and hazardous materials program.

"What impressed me most about the Soldiers in the supply section was their commitment to getting everything right," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Smith, 72nd FA BDE property book officer. "After we conducted our initial inspection, they took our comments and recommendations and really gave a lot of attention to detail. They worked very hard."

The battalion submitted a competition packet to the 87th Army Reserve Support Command, which reviewed and endorsed it after the brigade conducted the inspection. The packet then went to U.S. Army Reserve Command to forward to the Department of the Army.

The Department of the Army judges graded competing units on their adherence to the standards set forth by the CSPD in Army Regulation 720-2, which covers units' responsibilities toward issued equipment. This final inspection occurred in early 2012.

"The inspectors combed through everything; they checked for proper accountability, accuracy of our forms and procedures, correct labeling of hazardous materials and reviewed our publication listing," said Huff. "They were very thorough and it was a little stressful, but I was confident we would do well."

The Supply Excellence Award winners and runners up were announced in March. While he's happy to have won, Huff said he believes the most valuable take-away from the competition was the learning experience of preparing for it.

"Of course, I'd love to be there getting the award every year, but it matters more that we are sustaining a high level of efficiency," said Huff. "Our goal is to continue increasing logistics readiness and supply organization."

Maroun agreed with this concept viewing the achievement as a point from which to accomplish more
.
"This accomplishment does not mark the end of a journey, but rather just the beginning," said Maroun. "It is the beginning of continued excellence in supply operations and in mentoring the next generation of logisticians."

The 72nd FA BDE plans, coordinates and enables post-mobilization, pre-deployment training in support of specified U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard units. On order, the brigade provides pre-mobilization training assistance within its capabilities for Army Reserve and Army National Guard units.