215th Brigade Support Battalion
"Blacksmiths"
215th Forward Support Battalion
On July 15th, 2005, as part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, the 215th FSB stood down from DISCOM and was reactivated as the 215th BSB of the 3rd Brigade later on that day.
Although 26 March 1971, officially marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the majority of the 1st Cavalry Division, President Nixon's program of "Vietnamization" required the continued presence of a strong U.S. fighting force. To serve this function, the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Regiment, 1st Battalion of the 7th Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the 8th Regiment and 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment along with specialized support units as "F" Troop, 9th Cavalry and Delta Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion and "C" Company, 8th Engineer Battalion helped establish the 3rd Brigade headquarters at Bien Hoa. Its primary mission was to interdict enemy infiltration and supply routes.
On 30 June 1971, the 215th Composite Service Battalion (Support) was constituted in the Regular Army and assigned to the 3rd Brigade (Special), 1st Cavalry Division and activated in the Republic of Vietnam. Support included, but not limited to administrative services, supply distribution, medical and maintenance support. To provide these services, the battalion was comprised of the following units: Headquarters, Headquarters and Band Support Command, Administrative Company, Supply and Transport Company, Medical Company and Headquarters and Maintenance Support Company.
The 215th Composite Service Battalion demonstrated new concepts, efficiency and dedication of support to the 3rd Brigade through the use of personnel contact teams, brigade, aviation assets and aerial delivery techniques. The 215th participated in four campaigns, including Counter Offensive Phase VII, Consolidation I and II and Cease Fire. In addition to the support of the brigade, the Medical Company also participated in a significant civil action program involving support missions to the civil population of Vietnam. As a result of the dedication and professionalism of the troopers assigned to the battalion, the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
By 31 March 1972, only 96,000 U.S. troops were involved in the Vietnam combat operations. In less than two months later, the last of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 3rd Brigade, along with the 215th Composite Service Battalion, began its "Stand Down" in a phased withdrawal and was bought back to the United States, completing the division recall on 26 June 1972, which had started over a year earlier on 05 May 1971. The 1st Cavalry Division had been the first army division to go to Vietnam and the last to leave. On 30 June 1972, the 215th Composite Service Battalion was inactivated at Oakland, California.
On 16 December 1991, the 215th Composite Support Battalion was reactivated as the 215th Support Battalion (FWD) at Fort Hood, Texas. In January and February 1992, the battalion participated in the Army Field Tests of the single channel Ground-Airborne System (SINCGARS). During this test the "Blacksmiths" established a high standard of excellence, achieving a 98.9 percent diagnosis rate for the tested radios. In December, the battalion went to the National Training Center to support the 3rd Brigade. The "Blacksmith" troopers set records for spare parts supply accountability and helped the brigade achieve the highest turn-in operational readiness rate experienced in over 100 National Training Center rotations.
Within 20 days of returning from the National Training Center, the battalion deployed a Logistic Task Force to Kuwait in support of Task Force 3-41 Infantry during Operation Intrinsic Action, where the they provided the full spectrum of combat service support. In January 1993, the battalion returned to Kuwait in support of Task Force 1-9 Cavalry during Operation Iris Gold.
Throughout 1993, the 215th participated in the Army's field testing of the M1A2 tank, helping to prove the viability of new diagnostic test sets for the hull and turret electronic components, as well as proving the suitability for the overall maintainability of the tank.
In July 1993 and in October 1944, the 215th again deployed to the National Training Center, at Fort Irwin, California in support of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. In December 1955, upon returning from the National Training Center, the battalion deployed logistic elements to Panama to provide the 8th Engineer Battalion with medical and maintenance support following the riots at the Cuban refugee camps.
The mission of the 215th Forward Support Battalion is to provide logistical support to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
The 215th Forward Support Battalion was organized with three companies.
- The Headquarters and Alpha Company consists of all battalion-level command and staff personnel, all battalion food service personnel, and a support operations section. Additionally, it is the supply and service company in the battalion and provides petroleum supply, ration support and general supply support to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
- The Bravo Company is a maintenance company that conducts direct support repairs and services on equipment in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The company has the capability of repairing tracked and wheeled equipment, engineer equipment, fire control equipment, and tank turrets. Additionally, the service and recovery section provides metal working support and vehicle recovery support. The company also maintains a repair parts warehouse.
- The Charlie Company is a medical company that has the mission of treating, holding and evacuating patients from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
By 2004 the 215th Forward Support Battalion was organized with five companies and a headquarters distribution company.
- The Headquarters Distribution Company (HDC) consists of all battalion-level command and staff personnel. HDC provides food service to the three base companies (HDC, D BSC, and E FSMC), battalion communications support, and a support operations section. Additionally it is the supply and service company in the battalion, and provides petroleum supply, ration support, transportation, maintenance parts support, and general supply to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
- The Alpha Forward Support Company is a multifunctional unit that provides transportation, field maintenance, and all classes of supply for the 1-9 Cavalry. It executes the CSS plan in the maneuver area of Task Force 1-9 Cav.
- The Bravo Forward Support Company is a multifunctional unit that provides transportation, field maintenance, and all classes of supply for the 2-7 Cavalry. It executes the CSS plan in the maneuver area of Task Force 2-7 Cav.
- The Charlie Forward Support Company is a multifunctional unit that provides transportation, field maintenance, and all classes of supply for the 3-8 Cavalry. It executes the CSS plan in the maneuver area of Task Force 3-8 Cav.
- The Delta Brigade Support Company is a direct support maintenance company in support of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Greywolf). The BSC 1st and 2nd base platoons provide organizational and direct support maintenance support to HDC 215th FSB, D BSC 215th FSB, E FSMC 215th FSB, 3rd Brigade Reconnaissance Troop and HHC 3d BDE. The D BSC provides base shop support to 3 BCT in the Armament shop, ground support equipment, missile and ELM shops. The BSC Engineer Support Platoon is a multifunctional unit that provides transportation, field maintenance, and all classes of supply for the 8th Engineer Battalion.
- The Echo Forward Support Medical Company [formerly Charlie Company] is a medical company that has the mission of treating, holding, and evacuating patients within the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. E FSMC is composed of organic medical platoons that provide triage, management of mass casualties, and advanced trama management. Some other areas of care given are initial recessitation and stabilization, and care for patients with combat and peacetime injuries. E FSMC can provide interventions for combat and operational stress disorders to include battle fatigue, and preparation of medical patients for further evacuations.
The battalion provides the "life blood" of the the 3d Brigade Combat Team. food, fuel, maintenance, transportation and repair parts. The 3d Brigade could not accomplish its mission if our soldiers did not first accomplish theirs.
In March 2004 they deployed, conducted additional training in Kuwait, road marched to Iraq, and established operations in Baghdad. The soldiers were challenged daily by the environment, weather, and security conditions, but they never fail to face each day with a can-do attitude.
Starting in June 2004 they began allowing Soldiers to take leave. Only about 60% of all Soldiers were allowed to take leave or participate in other Pass Programs such as the Fighter Management Program in Qatar or Freedom Rest. This is because the programs start after the first 90 days and end before the last 90 days (planning factor is one year). This leaves six months for the leave program. Only 10% of the battalion can be gone at any given time-6 months X 10%=60%. The first priority is for Soldiers who have a child being born or one that was born since we left Fort Hood. Second priority is to Soldiers or spouses who were deployed to a hardship tour within 90 days of this deployment. Third, fourth and fifth priority is to everyone else.
They continue to receive food, water, medical supplies, repair parts and other supplies from 27th Main Support Battalion. They arrive several times a week to make deliveries. They determine the requirements for each of the units that we support and separate the supplies down into piles when units show up for pickup. They have convoys going to Baghdad International Airport several times a week. They pick up fuel in large quantities to provide fuel support to all the units within the 3BCT. The convoys look ready for action- almost every vehicle has a large crew served weapon on it. They are supported by the Brigade Recon Troop and normally have aviation assets watch over travel. The staff continues to provide internal support to the battalion thru the S1 and S4 shops. S2/3 plans missions to meet the requirements determined by the support operations section and they also provide daily intelligence updates. S6 is kept busy with setting up communications, computers, internet access, satellite systems and other high tech military gadgets. Everyone is doing something that supports the battalion as a whole.
