2nd Lt. Glenn P. Sudol (left), fuel and water platoon leader, and Sgt. Jacques Mesadieu (center), squad leader, both with the 325th BSB, help resolve fuel accountability issues during a weekly meeting at “K1,” an Iraqi Army compound in Kirkuk Province. Photo by Army Sgt. Mike Alberts.

Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s 325th Brigade Support Battalion understand the importance of logistical support for military operations. It’s what they “do”; they provide flexible and responsive combat service support and combat health support to 3IBCT. For the past year, however, it’s what they’ve “done” to improve the sustainability of the Iraqi Army’s 4th Division that’s remarkable.

“One of our many challenges when we arrived in Iraq was to figure out a way to support the brigade’s strategic mission to help establish a credible Iraqi Security Force,” said Lt. Col. James D. Hess, battalion commander, 325th BSB. Hess’ diverse battalion contains Soldiers with expertise in more than 127 different military occupational specialties, many of whom could assist an Iraqi Army logistics system left undeveloped during the initial efforts to rebuild a capable Iraqi Army. To this end, Hess’ unit partnered with the Iraqi Army 4th Division at “K1".

K1 is an Iraqi Army compound located on the outskirts of Kirkuk approximately 150 miles north of Baghdad. It is home to the Iraqi Army 4th Division’s Garrison Support Unit (GSU) and 4th Motorized Truck Regiment, among other elements. 325th BSB’s mission is to train and mentor the GSU and 4th MTR, and to improve their respective logistical infrastructure and operations.

“They had basic mechanics, medics, infantryman and so forth, but the division really didn’t have much of a logistics middle to sustain itself,” explained Hess. “So we built the ‘BLAsTT’ concept in response to that challenge and to supplement the existing Military Transition Training teams (MiTT) at K1 and throughout or brigade’s area of responsibility.”

The Bronco Logistics Assistance Training Team, or “BLAsTT” as its known, assists the GSU’s and 4th MTR’s logistical needs by providing a consistent presence of medical, supply, maintenance, ammunition and fuel system specialists. In addition, BLAsTT assistance is tailored to the specific logistical needs of the GSU and 4th MTR. For instance, if a generator goes down at K1, BLAsTT augments its team with generator mechanics to assist in the repair and to conduct necessary training. In other words, Hess allows their issues to help focus his efforts.

According to Hess, during any given week, 10 to 15 BLAsTT Soldiers are training, mentoring and advising Iraqi Army counterparts at K1. Among those BLAsTT Soldiers are 2nd Lt. Glenn Sudol, platoon leader, fuel and water systems, and Sgt. James Brawley, vehicle mechanic.

Sudol, a native of Bridgewater, New Jersey, assists and advises the GSU on fuel delivery and storage issues. The 24 year-old is completing his first combat deployment and explained that fuel needs are critical in the Iraqi military environment. 

“The fuel improvements are a priority because keeping generators running is critical to the goal of making K1 self-sufficient,” said Sudol. “Generators run off fuel.  The more improved the fuel systems are and the capacity to store fuel the closer the Iraqi Army at K1 gets to that goal,” he said. Since their arrival, Sudol and his fuel team have improved the fuel storage capabilities at K1 from about 8,000 gallons of usable fuel to over 50,000 gallons, supervised the installation of six external diesel fuel tanks, helped install a fuel pumping station and new fuel pumps and implemented various fuel handling safety measures, among other things.

Brawley is a vehicle mechanic who has worked to improve the 4th MTR’s maintenance systems. The Freemont, Ohio, native explained that BLAsTT has streamlined maintenance and transportation systems immensely, albeit less quantifiably. Improvements include things such as the implementation of comprehensive vehicle maintenance training, administrative reforms and safety procedures.

“So much has improved since we arrived,” said Brawley. “The key, though, is that we don’t tell them what to do. We listen to their concerns and needs and offer our recommendations,” he said. “They are grateful to have us as partners and are receptive to our advice.”

Capt. Thamir works in the GSU’s logistics section and has interacted with various members of the 325th BSB’s BLAsTT. He complimented his counterparts on their contribution to the GSU’s sustainability. Thamir attributed BLAsTT success to its simple approach.

“When the BLAsTT Soldiers arrived, they immediately treated us as equals, as human beings,” said Thamir, through an interpreter. “They listen. They care for us. They work with us,” he said. “That has been the difference. We will miss them.”