Logistics command will be first in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Logistics command will be first in Afghanistan
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 2, 2009 6:11:18 EST

The Army Reserve’s 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command will deploy to Afghanistan in late February as the military prepares for a boots-on-the-ground increase of up to 30,000 more troops by midsummer.

The deployment is the first time an ESC, a one-star command, is being sent to Afghanistan, said Brig. Gen. Daniel Schultz, commander of the 143rd.

“It’s not like there hasn’t been anyone doing logistics in theater,” he said. “But because of the increased volume of not only units and troops coming into theater, the increase in munitions, fuel, food ... has made it where they really need a little more horsepower, a little more oversight. They’d be overwhelmed if they tried to continue to do logistics the way they’re doing now.”

Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has asked for up to 30,000 more boots on the ground to battle an increasingly complex insurgency.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates testified Jan. 27 on Capitol Hill that the military will be able to send two more brigade combat teams to Afghanistan by late spring and another by midsummer. The Army has already sent soldiers from 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division, to Afghanistan, diverting them from their original mission in Iraq.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/army_143deployment_020209/%2e