Features

21st Theater Sustainment Command Org Day

Story & photos by Sgt. Gerald Hill
16th Sustainment Brigade
July 4, 2025
U.S. Army parachute riggers assigned to the 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company, 16th Sustainment Brigade, display personnel and cargo parachutes during an organizational day at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 13, 2025. Pictured are the RA-1 parachute, right, used for high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) jumps; the MC-6 parachute, center, commonly used across Europe; and the T-11 parachute, left, designed for rapid descents.

The 21st Theater Sustainment Command hosted its annual Sports Day and organizational day at Pulaski Park, Kaiserslautern, June 12–13, bringing together brigades across the command for two days of athletic competition, camaraderie, and celebration.

This year’s event held special significance, marking the 21st TSC’s 60th anniversary and the upcoming 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. The occasion served both as a morale-boosting celebration and a tribute to the Soldiers, families, and civilians who support the command’s enduring mission.

Col. Todd Allison, deputy commander of the 21st TSC, addressed Soldiers and families at the opening ceremony, recognizing the dual milestones and expressing the pride of Maj. Gen. Ronald Ragin, commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Denice Malave, the unit’s senior enlisted advisor.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Ronald Ragin (left), commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Command Sgt. Maj. Denice Malave (right), the senior enlisted adviser, 21st TSC, and Pfc. Jerrod Adams (center) participated in a cake-cutting ceremony at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on June 13, 2025. The ceremony symbolized the organization’s history and future, with Ragin and Malave representing the past and Adams the future.

“Our operational tempo is intense, stretching from Norway to Greece and across Africa,” Allison said. “Today is a chance to step back and recognize the people who make that possible. A shout out to the families who stand by their Soldiers and enable them to do what they do. We couldn’t do it without you.”

The competition kicked off with a morning football tournament featuring the 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st TSC, 16th Sustainment Brigade, and 30th Medical Brigade. After a series of preliminary matches, including participation from Army National Guard units, the 30th Medical Brigade defeated the 21st TSC in the championship game.

At the close of the tournament, the 30th Medical Brigade was awarded the 2025 Commander’s Cup. The 16th Sustainment Brigade earned runner-up honors for their “outstanding effort and hard-earned finish.”

U.S. Army Col. Todd Allison, deputy commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, delivers opening remarks to competitors, personnel, and families at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 12, 2025, to kick off the 2025 Commander’s Cup. Allison emphasized the significance of the competition and the crucial role of family support in fostering unit readiness and morale.

In line with tradition, the command also sealed its 2025 time capsule, marking the culmination of a legacy effort that began in 2024. Scheduled to be opened on June 14, 2035, the capsule honors the resilience and contributions of 21st TSC Soldiers, families, and the broader community.

Each participating unit added symbolic items reflecting their achievements: 7th Mission Support Command contributed a partnership flag and a pride pin. 16th Sustainment Brigade submitted a brigade coin, and LSA Eagle badges from the command team. 18th Military Police Brigade added a regimental coin, honoring their garrison mission. The 30th Medical Brigade included a unit of whole blood to commemorate their 500-unit delivery and the setup of a field hospital during Defender 25, a lifesaving contribution to warfighter survivability.

Support Operations added a beer opener and large Euro coins, nodding to daily life and shared experiences in Germany.

U.S. Army Cpl. Marcos Ruz, assigned to the 1st Inland Cargo Transfer Company, slides into home during a round-robin softball game at the 2025 Commander’s Cup competition at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 12, 2025. The tournament featured teams from the 30th Medical Brigade, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command and 16th Sustainment Brigade.

The 21st TSC command team provided a deployment brief outlining priorities (people, mission, and families), along with a two-star banking note thanking personnel for their theater-wide impact, from Norway to Morocco, and in support of Ukraine.

The time capsule box, designed by Mr. Gene Warren and Will Lester, was recognized as a “first-class job” by command leadership.

The celebration concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, a longstanding military tradition symbolizing the organization’s history and future. Maj. Gen. Ragin and Command Sgt. Maj. Malave, representing the unit’s senior leadership, were joined by Pfc. Jerrod Adams, the most junior Soldier present at the event, made a symbolic gesture of continuity and growth.

Soldiers with the 30th Medical Brigade pose for a photo after competing in the 2025 Commander’s Cup at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 12, 2025. The brigade claimed the championship title after defeating the 21st Theater Sustainment Command in the final game, closing out a day of competitive athletic events.

In her closing remarks, Malave thanked participants for stepping away from their demanding mission sets to enjoy time with their families.

“This is just a small token of appreciation for everything you and your families do for the 21st TSC,” Malave said. “We are not successful without every one of you.”

U.S. Army Col. Matthew Alexander, commander of the 16th Sustainment Brigade and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Towns, senior enlisted advisor, 16th SB, contributed a brigade coin and Logistics Support Area (LSA) Eagle badges from their command team to a time capsule at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on June 13, 2025. The items showcase their unit’s spirit and reflect their achievements.
Soldiers with the 16th Sustainment Brigade take part in the 21st Theater Sustainment Command run in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 13, 2025. The event promoted morale, unit cohesion and family participation, offering Soldiers, families and friends an opportunity to build camaraderie in a fun, relaxed environment.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Dinel Taylor, an automated logistics specialist assigned to the 16th Sustainment Brigade, competes against the 30th Medical Brigade during the 2025 Commander’s Cup at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 12, 2025. The 16th Sustainment Brigade was recognized as runner-up for their outstanding effort and hard-fought finish in the tournament.
U.S. Army Sgt. Austin Phillipson, assigned to the 728th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, remotely operates a FLIR Centaur robot during an organizational day at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 13, 2025. The robot supports multiple missions, including explosive ordnance disposal, surveillance, reconnaissance, and detection of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
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