Soldiers from the 514th Support Maintenance Company, 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), case their colors in preparation for an upcoming deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on Sept. 13, 2019, on Fort Drum, New York. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon Cox)
514th SMC Soldiers prepare to deploy
in support of Operation Inherent Resolve
Sgt. Brandon Cox
10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2019) – Soldiers from the 514th Support Maintenance Company, 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), cased their colors during a ceremony held Sept. 13 in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).
The ceremony symbolizes the start of the deployment. The colors will not be uncased until the transfer of authority takes place and the unit has assumed their position in theater.
Lt. Col. Jason W. Schultz, 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commander, said that the 514th SMC has a long and proud history of service to the nation and the Soldiers are all ready to support the next chapter.
Capt. Luke Franklin, 514th SMC commander, spoke about the many challenges that the "Titans" will face while being split between Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Kuwait and Jordan.
"The Titans welcome the challenge," Franklin said, "as challenges are an opportunity for growth personally, professionally, as a unit and as individuals."
Soldiers of the 514th SMC will provide maintenance support for wheeled vehicles, recovery, armament and power generation.
Approximately 130 10th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers will replace their counterparts in 183rd Support Maintenance Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, based at Fort Carson, Colorado, according to Franklin.
Franklin offered final words of encouragement to his Soldiers before their departure.
"Undoubtedly, we have some hard days ahead of us," Franklin said. "But with those, plenty of opportunities to achieve greatness."