21st TSC honors “Logistics Heroes”

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. During a 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s recent awards ceremony on Panzer Kaserne, six logistics heroes were recognized. While they were civilian and military, male and female, German and American, they had one thing in common.

“They are all dedicated professionals. In addition to their technical capabilities, they take the initiative to go above and beyond their routine job requirements to perform genuinely outstanding jobs,” said Orval Windham, the deputy of the 21st TSC’s supply and logistics division.

“Logistics Heroes” is an award program resurrected by Brig. Gen. Mark Bellini, operations sustainment director for U.S. Army Europe’s supply and logistics division, and whole-heartedly embraced by the 21st TSC, Mr. Windham said.

“Logistics troops don’t usually receive the same amount of recognition as other troops. This program is an opportunity to recognize military and civilians for the stuff they do that is exceptional – that is above and beyond,” he said.

The awards are signed by Brig. Gen. Bellini and presented by Maj. Gen. Yves Fontaine, the 21st TSC’s commanding general. That, in itself, is an indication of how important the award program is, said Lt. Col. Clifford Hoppman, 21st TSC’s assistant chief of staff for supply and logistics.

The awards and the public forum in which they are presented do more than show the recipients what they do is recognized and appreciated.

“It goes a long way toward job satisfaction to know that someone took the time to do the write-up and make the effort to officially praise their performance. It also shows their peers that they are the ones who get the mission accomplished,” Mr. Windham said.

The 21st TSC’s most recent awardees are Maj. Jonathan Hall, Vesna Henry, Master Sgt. Althea Basnight, Sgt. 1st Class Angela Fryer, Sgt. Timothy Brandley and Spc. Anthony Miles.

Major Hall, a logistics management officer with the 21st TSC, was recognized for his contributions during an eight month temporary duty assignment to the Joint Task Force, East rotation in Romania where he served as the director for logistics and the contracting officer representative.

“He ended up not just being the assistant to the DOL as intended, but the man did a masterful job of it,” Mr. Windham said.

Because of Major Hall’s dedication and effort in both capacities, JTF-E coalition forces received all necessary supplies to stand up an enduring military base and the lives of all personnel stationed in JTF-E, Romania were improved by the services he contracted for.

Ms. Henry, a German civilian employee, was recognized for her performance as a property book officer for the 21st TSC’s supply and logistics division. As such, she ensured all excess internal and external lateral transfers of equipment were processed correctly for the 21st TSC’s major support commands. She also served as their government purchase card subject matter expert for the MSCs.

“Ms. Henry manages both programs in an outstanding manner and has done so for a number of years. It’s a bit out of the norm to have a local national with credit card control, but she performs flawlessly,” Mr. Windham said.

Master Sergeant Basnight is the logistics management non-commissioned officer in charge at the 21st TSC’s supply branch.

The rapid fielding initiative program she manages ensures thousands of Soldiers from the 21st TSC’s subordinate brigades and battalions receive their theater-specific equipment before deploying.

She also identified and filled 22 critical equipment shortages for subordinate units, improving the units’ readiness and performance.

Sergeant First Class Fryer served as the property book NCOIC at JTF-E, Romania, during a TDY in 2008. She maintained accountability of assets valued in excess of $5 million, supervised vendor performance and invoiced four contracts totaling more than $55,000.

“These two individuals truly put the Army first. With the main body of the 18th Military Police Brigade deployed, they stepped up to the plate. They came in early and stayed late to do the job – never asking for any compensation or recognition,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Darren Floyd, 18th MP Bde. property book officer, regarding Sergeant Brandley and Specialist Miles.

Sergeant Brandley is the Supply NCO with the 18th MP Bde. His efforts resulted in the receipt of 40 stock funded shortage items valued close to $300,000. Additionally, he completed and closed 18 Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss worth $45,000.

Specialist Miles is a supply specialist at the 18th MP Bde.
He too closed 18 FLIPLs in an expedient manner, thus improving the unit’s readiness and performance.