Wrangler Bde supports 3rd ACR equipment deployment

Pfc. Amy M. Lane, 4th Sust. Bde. Public Affairs
Thursday, July 29, 2010

Despite the heat and humidity, Soldiers from the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), teamed up with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to prepare and move equipment and vehicles for the Brave Rifles’ upcoming deployment in support of Operation New Dawn.

“We’ve been out here since day one,” Sgt. Michael Matusiak, with the 602nd Maintenance Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, said. “We have been providing maintenance support, safety, traffic control, and anything else it takes to make sure these vehicles get on the trains,” he added.

From July 7-21, several units from the 4th Sust. Bde. helped to move about 750 pieces of equipment from motor pools to the railhead, where the equipment will be taken to the Port of Beaumont for shipment to Iraq.

Soldiers from the 3rd ACR, which is preparing to deploy later this summer, will spend a year in Iraq supporting Operation New Dawn. Their equipment will travel to the Port of Beaumont on four trains.

“The Wrangler Brigade often provides support for deploying units,” Matusiak said. “We are experienced with helping them move equipment and supporting them as far as vehicle maintenance. Basically we do whatever needs to be done.”

As the Brave Rifles moved their vehicles to the deployment readiness reaction field for inspection, Wrangler Brigade Soldiers helped direct traffic. The 4th Sust. Bde. also provided the equipment needed to load everything on the trains after the vehicles were moved to the railhead.