Local troops in Transportation Company help to complete mission

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – The transportation corps' creed reads: "I am transportation, the spearhead of logistics ... and nothing happens, until something moves."

As operational tempo increases to support the responsible drawdown of forces, transportation Soldiers are relied upon heavily to move equipment throughout the Iraqi theater, according to 1st Lt. Reginald Davis, the 1083rd Transportation Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), executive officer from Shreveport, La.

Spc. Jamie Gryder, a Shreveport, La., native, operates an enormous sand colored truck and she realizes the significance of her efforts to remain mission focused.

"The highway is extremely dangerous and we are subject to attack at any given time," she said.

This is the story for many Soldiers of the 1083rd Trans. Co. These Soldiers follow a constant rotation of missions out on the road.

The 1083rd Trans. Co. recently supported an operational move for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, hauling more than 50 M1A2 Abrams tanks along with other assets. Operations in Iraq depend on military transportation assets during operational moves just like this one.

"The significance of their efforts becomes more apparent as time draws closer for troops and equipment to be out of the country," said Davis.

The 1083rd Trans. Co., whose motto is "The House of the Warrior," spends anywhere from two to ten days out on the road to complete a mission. They drive all night and cycle between work and rest cycles during the day at various camp locations along the route.

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Levesque, a platoon sergeant from Bossier City, La., had a very different experience as a transportation Soldier on his previous deployment.

"Back in 2003, during the initial push, we could not drive after dark in Iraq," Levesque said.

The routine for these Soldiers has changed dramatically, and Soldiers like Levesque have to be versatile and flexible. As 1083d Trans. Co. adapts to the constant change in operational tempo, the unit continues to support the responsible drawdown of forces.

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