{"id":16790,"date":"2023-06-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=16790"},"modified":"2023-06-28T06:42:11","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T06:42:11","slug":"battalion-that-made-history-issuing-an-entire-abct-aps-2-equipment-set-changes-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=16790","title":{"rendered":"Battalion that made history issuing an entire ABCT APS-2 equipment set changes leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n
\n
\n (Left to right) Outgoing Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim Commander Lt. Col. Brian Astwood, 405th Army Field Support Brigade Commander Col. Crystal Hills and incoming AFSBn-Mannheim Commander Lt. Col. Omar McKen render honors to the National Colors at the AFSBn-Mannheim change of command ceremony June 26 at Coleman worksite in Mannheim, Germany.
\n (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, Training Support Center Kaiserslautern)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

MANNHEIM, Germany \u2013 The battalion that made history last year when it issued an entire Armored Brigade Combat Team\u2019s worth of Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 equipment to a U.S.-based ABCT from the 3rd Infantry Division following Russia\u2019s unjust and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine changed leadership June 26.<\/p>\n

Army Lt. Col. Omar McKen assumed command of Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim from Lt. Col. Brian Astwood during a change of command ceremony at the Coleman APS-2 worksite in Mannheim. The 405th Army Field Support Brigade commander, Col. Crystal Hills, officiated the ceremony and provided guest remarks.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Battalion
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 1 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Outgoing Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim Commander Lt. Col. Brian Astwood passes the battalion colors to the 405th Army Field Support Brigade commander, Col. Crystal Hills, signifying Astwood\u2019s relinquishment of command during a ceremony at Coleman Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Mannheim, Germany, June 26.
\n (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, Training Support Center Kaiserslautern)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Battalion
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n The 405th Army Field Support Brigade commander, Col. Crystal Hills, passes the Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim colors to Lt. Col. Omar McKen, signifying McKen\u2019s official appointment as commander of AFSBn-Mannheim. McKen assumed command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Brian Astwood during a ceremony at the Coleman worksite in Mannheim, Germany, June 26.
\n (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, Training Support Center Kaiserslautern)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Astwood, who served as the commander of AFSBn-Mannheim for two years and led his team in issuing over 5,000 pieces of APS-2 equipment to include hundreds of M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, will next report to Hawaii where he will be assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and serve as the support operations officer. Astwood is also promotable so it\u2019s expected he will soon be promoted to colonel.<\/p>\n

McKen comes to AFSBn-Mannheim from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command where he served as the deputy for Operational Contract Support. Some of McKen\u2019s other recent assignments include support operations officer and executive officer at the 189th Combat Service Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, and joint logistics officer to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense, U.S. Army Security Assistance Support Activity.<\/p>\n

During her ceremonial remarks, Hills said the path to success is not always obvious, and the final destination may be unknown, but through strong leadership and dedicated service the Army will succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe count on our Leaders to chart our paths in uncertain times,\u201d Hills said. \u201cAs the U.S. Army engages and supports our allies and partners during the first major conflict in the European Theater since World War II, this continuity of leadership becomes even more invaluable.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to express my personal gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Astwood. I know his time here has been full of unique challenges, and I applaud his dedication to duty,\u201d said Hills. \u201cLieutenant Colonel Omar McKen has a tough act to follow, but I know he is capable of the task. He is ready for this assignment, and we are ready for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLieutenant Colonel McKen, there are still many more challenges here at Mannheim to face and even more at the U.S. Army\u2019s newest and the largest APS-2 worksite in world located at Powidz, Poland, which you will assume mission command of very soon,\u201d Hills added.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Battalion
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 1 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Army Col. Crystal Hills, the 405th Army Field Support Brigade commander, provides remarks at the Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim change of command ceremony June 26 at the Coleman worksite in Mannheim, Germany. Hills said the ceremony reminds everyone how past generations built the Army of today, and of how future generations of Soldiers are always ready to take charge when called.
\n (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, Training Support Center Kaiserslautern)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Battalion
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Army Lt. Col. Brian Astwood, outgoing commander of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade\u2019s Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim, provides stirring and emotional remarks at his change of command ceremony June 26 at Coleman Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Mannheim, Germany.
\n (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, Training Support Center Kaiserslautern)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Battalion
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Army Lt. Col. Omar McKen provides remarks at his change of command ceremony June 26 at Coleman Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Mannheim, Germany. McKen assumed command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Brian Astwood. Army Col. Crystal Hills, the 405th Army Field Support Brigade commander, officiated the ceremony and provided guest remarks.
\n (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, Training Support Center Kaiserslautern)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Astwood said during his last two years in command of AFSBn-Mannheim he\u2019s been nothing but astounded by the tremendous effort executing so many challenging missions and operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt all comes down to the people who make up this amazing organization,\u201d said Astwood. \u201cThere are too many DA civilians, officers, warrant officers and NCOs to thank individually but know that I appreciate all of you for making AFSBn-Mannheim successful.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The 405th AFSB\u2019s Mannheim battalion is charged with receiving, maintaining, storing and issuing Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 at the Coleman APS-2 worksite, which is located on a former Army airfield. In August 2021, U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced that it will retain the Coleman worksite, which was previously scheduled to be returned to the German government.<\/p>\n

The 405th AFSB\u2019s APS-2 program provides turn-key power projection packages ready to deploy at a moment\u2019s notice while helping to reduce the amount of equipment needed from the deploying forces\u2019 home stations. APS-2 sites like Coleman help reduce deployment timelines, improve deterrence capabilities and provide additional combat power for contingency operations. APS-2 equipment may also be drawn for use in training and exercises.<\/p>\n

The 405th AFSB is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. Forces throughout Europe and Africa \u2013 providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging U.S. Army Materiel Command\u2019s\u00a0materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website<\/a> and the official Facebook site<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Left to right) Outgoing Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim Commander Lt. Col. Brian Astwood, 405th Army Field Support Brigade Commander Col. Crystal Hills and incoming AFSBn-Mannheim Commander Lt. Col. Omar McKen render honors to the National Colors at the AFSBn-Mannheim change of command ceremony June 26 at Coleman worksite in Mannheim, Germany. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqu\u00e9, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16792,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16790"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16799,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16790\/revisions\/16799"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}