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BAMBERG, Germany — Col. Martin B. Pitts, outgoing commander, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, said farewell to the Soldiers and families of the logistics brigade and welcomed incoming commander Col. Keith Sledd during a change of command ceremony Dec. 16 at the Freedom Fitness Facility here.
Colonel Pitts told Soldiers it was an honor and a privilege to have served with them, and he was proud to share in the many accomplishments of the young unit.
“You bore the brunt of our brigade’s simultaneous transformation and ramp-up for our combat deployment and delivered unmatched, world-class sustainment to an area the size of the state of Pennsylvania, while facing an adaptive enemy and in the midst of the implementation of the comprehensive Iraqi Security Agreement,” Colonel Pitts said.
The 16th Sust. Bde., the only sustainment brigade in Europe, stood up July 16, 2007, and deployed to Northern Iraq in July 2008. The unit was one of the last units in Iraq to deploy for 15-months.
Colonel Pitts highlighted some of the accomplishments of “Knight Warrior” Soldiers in Iraq, including setting up thousands of meters of concertina wire for the historic provincial elections of 2009; training Iraqi army Soldiers to repair vehicles, weapons and equipment; setting up repair centers, warehouses and distribution systems on Iraqi army bases; and rebuilding water infrastructure in the drought-prone Ninawa province.
Soldiers from the 16th Sust. Bde. conducted more than 8,000 convoys in Iraq, providing sustainment support to U.S. and coalition forces, including more than 150 million gallons of fuel, 11,000 tons of rations and 10 million cases of bottled water.
Guest speaker Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, 21st TSC commanding general, congratulated Colonel Pitts and the Soldiers of the 16th Sust. Bde. for their accomplishments.
“I thank you all for your service to our nation and for your service in promoting a free and democratic government in Iraq,” General McQuistion said. “Your extraordinary contributions have paved the way for our future, and eventual mission accomplishment in Iraq.”
General McQuistion said the brigade’s efforts were essential to the Army’s mission in Northern Iraq.
“The brigade was critical in assisting both the 1st Armored Division and the 25th Infantry Division in maintaining a 96 percent readiness rate on more than 21,000 combat systems by managing three direct support maintenance facilities that completed over 14,000 work orders,” she said.
General McQuistion said she was saying farewell to Colonel Pitts, but also welcoming him. Colonel Pitts will move on to the 21st TSC.
Colonel Sledd, who served as the director of plans and operations at the Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., prior to assuming command of the 16th Sust. Bde., said he was proud to lead the 16th Sust. Bde.
“I would like to thank the great Soldiers standing before us today who represent the next ‘greatest generation,’ who have volunteered to carry the load and defend our nation,” he said.
Colonel Sledd is married to the former Wendy Rene Droze of Crowder, Okla., and they have a 27-year-old daughter, Jennifer. Mrs. Sledd was named the 2007 U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt Outstanding Agency Volunteer of the Year and the 2008 Schweinfurt Family Readiness Group Volunteer of the Year and is a recipient of the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.
