Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. –
The Illinois Army National Guard’s 6th Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) will extend its influence into another continent as it deploys Logistics Advisor Team 6620 and its seven Soldiers to Djibouti, Africa, for about six months after welcoming home Battalion Advisor Team 660 from Romania and Logistics Advisor Team 6622 from the Philippines.
A combined mobilization and welcome home ceremony for the three teams was held Aug. 4 at Heritage Hall on Rock Island Arsenal, where the battalion is based.
“The mission of the SFAB teams is invaluable to our allies and partner nations,” said Col. Beth Roxworthy, the Commander of the 34th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade. Roxworthy said the teams are mobile, modular, and interoperable and they build the defensive capacity of our friends and allies in the world. “The strategic impact of your work is often overlooked because we tend to focus on adversaries when the balloon goes up. Your soft power strengthens our partners and allies now. You have a lasting and dynamic impact that is vital to our national security.”
Battalion Advisor Team 660, led by 6th Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Matthew Kreiter, deployed approximately 20 Soldiers to Romania for six months returning in April. The team conducted security cooperation activities with Romania’s 2nd Infantry Division strengthening NATO alliances, increasing interoperability, and improving logistics.
The team conducted more than 350 military engagements, provided 26 recommendations to improve the Romanian Traumatic Combat Casualty Care course, supported a two-week intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) academy, taught a noncommissioned officer (NCO) leadership course, facilitated decision-making planning to develop and execute a logistics command post exercise, and presented at the War and Disaster Medicine Conference in Estonia on how physical therapy could expedite Soldiers’ return to the battlefield.
The five Soldiers of Logistics Advisor Team 6622, led by Maj. Thomas Brooks, also deployed for six months and returned earlier this year, but from the Philippines. There they worked with the Philippine Army to increase their capacity to fight and deter foreign aggression. While in the Philippines, the team conducted more than 60 engagements, conducted interoperability sustainment training with 200 Filipino Soldiers, advised Filipino officers on planning and executing their first brigade-level combined arms training exercise and advised and assisted the Filipino Chief Surgeon on planning and executing the first medical subject matter expert exchange between the U.S. and the Philippine Army.
Before the two teams deployed, Kreiter asked that they train hard and prepare themselves to conduct their mission, but also they “tell the story of how we are building up nations improving our military” to defend freedom and democracy. “Both these teams, 660 and 6622, did just that. We told our stories to multi-national partners across Europe and Asia, the highest levels of both Romanian Land Forces Command and Philippine Strategic Command, U.S. and foreign embassy staffs and security force operators throughout theater,” Kreiter said. “Everyone knew and wanted to join the SFAB’s cause on improving foreign militaries and interoperability and helping advance U.S. interests abroad.”
Those Soldiers who have returned and the rest of 6th Battalion, 54th SFAB have “to pick right back up and support our team going to Djibouti, Africa, Team 6620,” Kreiter said. “These seven individuals are ready. I can already see the success they will have. I’ve seen the trust, professionalism, and team comradery they have already built and will carry on to their partner force.”
Kreiter encouraged Team 6620 to get to know their Djibouti counterparts. “Understand their life, use phrases from their language, and honor their customs and laws.” He said the team should stay engaged every day and “tell your story to the foreign partners and the rest of the active military about all the good things you are doing. Telling your story helps inspire and creates a stronger partnership with those nations.”
Team 6620 is being led by Maj. Walter “Kyle” Brown, who addressed the families of the deploying Soldiers. The Soldiers “underwent a rigorous selection and were chosen not only based on their expertise in their field and ability to build relationships, but also for their character and integrity,” Brown said. “As a military leader I can teach technical and tactical expertise. But I cannot make someone a person of character.” Families and friends help build character, he said.
Brig. Gen. Justin Osberg, the Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, thanked the Soldiers’ families and employers for their support as their Soldier deploys and when they return. He described a Soldier’s ability to perform his or her missions both in Illinois and throughout the world as a “three-legged stool” with one leg being the Soldier with the training they’ve received and the other two legs being their family and their employer. “It cannot stand without the support of all three legs,” Osberg said.
The general presented the team with a State of Illinois Flag to carry with them to Africa, symbolizing the state’s support of the deploying Soldiers.