Fort Campbell’s 101st Sustainment Brigade takes on logistics role in Liberia

Written by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Rose Mittlesteadt
101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia – The logistical element for Joint Forces Command – United Assistance unfurled its colors in a military ceremony held at Firestone, Monrovia, Liberia, November 12th.

The 101st Sustainment Brigade, Task Force Lifeliner, from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, provides sustainment and support to Ebola treatment units, as well as the health care workers and other enablers assisting in Operation United Assistance across Liberia.

Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa.

The ceremony was attended by Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, the JFC-UA commander, Sgt. Maj. Kirk Hines, acting senior enlisted advisor for JFC-UA, and other key leaders, including the lead agency USAID. The ceremony symbolizes a new and challenging mission for the logistical task force.

“Task Force Lifeliner is eager to bring our unique capabilities to be a part of this significant mission,” said Col. Kimberly Daub, commander of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, Task Force Lifeliner. “We are ready to work alongside the people of Liberia to sustain all of those who are here accomplishing a monumental task by containing the Ebola virus.”

Daub spoke during the ceremony about the daily progress across Liberia and the spirit of the local people.

“Even with our short time on the ground, the Lifeliner team can see all the incredible work and the progress that has been made,” said Daub. “We know there are many challenges ahead of us, but I have already found that we will be successful because of the generosity of this country, the Liberian people’s resilient spirit and the helping hands of every organization that is part of this noble fight.”

Task Force Lifeliner is the primary sustainment asset for Operation United Assistance and manages the logistics support area, which is currently being built in Buchannan, Liberia. The Lifeliners are no stranger to managing large-scale logistical challenges as the unit was a key asset in the rapid drawdown of personnel and equipment from Afghanistan in 2013.

As Daub closed the ceremony, she promised the guests that her team is up to accomplishing this mission effectively and safely.

“We are eager to sustain Operation United Assistance; we are ready to learn from all of our partners, and we are honored to support the team to ensure we beat the Ebola virus,” she said.