by Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Smith
4-25th IBCT Public Affairs
3/28/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The
725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, increased its combat power by
formally adding two additional companies to its ranks during a patch
ceremony March 17 at the Alaska National Guard Headquarters Building at
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The two newest units in the Spartan Brigade are the 4th Quartermaster
Detachment and the 716th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company. The
Centurion Battalion's numbers increased by a couple hundred paratroopers
recently, both with these two new units, and the recently acquired 8th
Forward Surgical Team, which is currently deployed to Afghanistan on a
nine-month rotation.
The new Centurions moved over from the 2d Engineer Brigade, U.S. Army
Alaska, as part of ongoing, Army-wide force restructuring. Under the
changes, USARAK is scheduled to decrease the number of Soldiers
stationed at JBER, while increasing the amount at Fort Wainwright.
The patch ceremony, featuring new paratroopers donning the 4-25th IBCT
shoulder sleeve insignia and maroon berets, formally welcomes the units
into the brigade while significant logistic operations occur behind the
scenes. Service members, Department of the Army civilians and
contractors are responsible for transferring, turning in, and accounting
for large amounts of unit property as the realignment efforts take
place.
The Spartan Brigade and Centurion Battalion's family readiness groups will grow as well, welcoming new families to the units.
The new Centurion paratroopers are happy to be united with the large airborne community of the 4-25th IBCT.
"I originally was with the 4-25th, and I came over to the 2d Engineer
Brigade specifically to command this company, so I'm excited to go back
home, and be in an airborne brigade again," said 4th QM commander, Army
Capt. Sloane Mauldin, from Fredericksburg, Va. "My troopers are
absolutely excited to be part of a unit with such great airborne lineage
and history as the 4-25th."
"The 4-25th has been very welcoming, and we are excited to work with
them and be a part of the team," said 716th EOD executive officer, Army
1st Lt. Josiah Hennieg, from Stratford, Conn.
"This ceremony is a great way to punctuate that the 716th EOD and the
4th Quartermaster are now part of the Spartan family," said Army Col.
Matthew McFarlane, 4-25th IBCT commander.
"There are many aspects that go into this," McFarlane said, "from
mission command responsibilities of equipping and sustainment to family
care. We are ensuring we guide our leaders and all of our Soldiers in
leader development, and interacting with post agencies to make sure we
can take care of the entire formation and their families."
Units across Alaska are meeting the challenges presented by the Army's
force restructuring, said Army Maj. Gen. Michael Shields, USARAK
commanding general. He said the patch ceremony is the right way to
welcome new units as they transition throughout his command.
"This is a progression of several moves within USARAK, and this is a
great way to recognize these units and Soldiers for their service and of
course, the great history and tradition of the 4th of the 25th," he
said.
Shields said USARAK has plans to restructure many units in the future,
to include some aviation units, as the command continues to realign its
force structure both at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and at Fort
Wainwright.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
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