Press Release, October 3, 2008:
Eldersburg Native Takes Command in Iraq

Maryland Army Reserve unit takes control
Spc. Andrea Merritt 1st Sustainment Brigade PAO
September 2008

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, an Army Reserve unit based out of Rockville, Md., officially took control of operations from the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 21.

The 398th CSSB now has command and control of Victory Base Complex Bulk Fuel Farm, Central Receiving and Shipping Point Yard, Liberty Ammunition Supply Point, and Shower Laundry and Clothing Repair teams in Multi-National Divisions – Baghdad and Center.

In order to prepare for their new mission, the 398th CSSB underwent months of pre-mobilization and mobilization training. Upon arriving to Iraq, the Soldiers of the 398th CSSB trained closely with their counterparts in the 553rd CSSB to fully understand how to perform their duties.

“The 398th (CSSB) is fully ready to support the mission,” said Lt. Col. William Arther, an Eldersburg, Md. Native, and the 398th CSSB commander.

“(Our goal) is to get the mission done and try to make a positive impact to the mission,” added Arther. “The main purpose here is the warfighters and the decision makers.”

Although the 553rd CSSB has cased its colors and left its former responsibilities in capable hands, the unit’s mission is far from complete. The battalion is not quite heading home, but to a different location on the camp.

The 553rd CSSB, a Fort Hood, Texas, unit, is scheduled to transition with the 168th Brigade Support Battalion and take on a new mission. The unit will be responsible for a multi-class Supply Support Activity and conduct direct support maintenance.

The unit will also have to direct the transport of supplies to about 80,000 warfighters throughout MND – B and MND – C.

“We were aware before our deployment that our mission was going to change. That wasn’t an issue for the battalion headquarters since we’d already trained on both mission sets at the National Training Center in November 2007,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Koller, the commander of the 553rd CSSB.

“We look forward to our next mission and will continue to provide great support to our customers,” added Koller, a Mobile, Ala. native.

CAMP LIBERTY – Lt. Col. William Arther, an Eldersburg, Md. native, and commander of the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, gives a speech during a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 21. The 398th CSSB, an Army Reserve unit based out of Rockfeld, Md., transitioned with the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and took command and control of the Bulk Fuel Farm, Class I Yard, Central Receiving and Shipping Point Yard, nine Shower Laundry and Clothing Renovation teams, and the Liberty Ammunition Supply Point. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrea Merritt, 1st Sustainment Brigade, PAO)

CAMP LIBERTY – Lt. Col. Gregory Koller, commander of the 553rd CSSB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Orlando McMurry, command sergeant major for the 553rd CSSB, case their unit’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 21. Although the casing of the colors usually signals the end of a deployment, that is not the case for the 553rd CSSB. The unit has been in Iraq for about five months and is scheduled to transition for a third time and take over the mission set of the 168th Brigade Support Battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrea Merritt, 1st Sustainment Brigade, PAO)

CAMP LIBERTY – Lt. Col. William Arther, commander of the 398th CSSB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Merritt, command sergeant major for the 398th CSSB, uncase their unit’s colors at a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 21.  The 398th CSSB will now be in charge of the Bulk Fuel Farm, Class I Yard, Central Receiving and Shipping Point Yard, nine Shower Laundry and Clothing Renovation teams, and the Liberty Ammunition Supply Point. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrea Merritt, 1st Sustainment Brigade, PAO)