The 1st U.S. Army Support Battalion, 350-plus strong, makes up about 14 percent of the MFO. It's mission is to provide logistics support to the soldiers from the infantry battalions (U.S., Fiji, and Colombia) who man the remote sites and checkpoints scattered throughout the desert, as well as provide care and support to administrative personnel on the two main installations.

Supply and Transportation Company drivers master the harsh desert conditions to deliver water, fuel mail, and other supplies to MFO soldiers. The Medical Company provides surgeons, medics, dentists, and physical therapists who treat the entire Force. The Explosive Ordnance Detachment provides invaluable service by teaching soldiers about land mine awareness, performing site surveys to ensure safe operating locations, and responding to discoveries of unexploded ordnance, of which the Sinai is full. The Aviation Company uses it's fleet of Huey's to provide air transport and the observation platform for Civilian Observers verification missions throughout the operations area, as well as performing VIP missions, personnel transport and resupply missions for several of the most isolated and dangerous sites. Headquarters Company, of course, provides command and control for the battalion as well as financial, postal, supply, and administrative support.

Over the past year, the SPTBATT has performed numerous missions, from the routine to the exceptional, and has done them with enthusiasm, professionalism, and great success. A typical day for the battalion begins much like any other U.S. Army unit's day, with PT formation at 0530. The familiar sound of soldiers singing cadence can be heard across the installation in the pre-dawn desert air. There is the normal camaraderie, ribbing, and shoptalk at breakfast in the Dining Facility - in a mixture of languages and accents! Then, soldiers go off to perform their daily missions as truck drivers, medics, helicopter mechanics, company clerks, and others.

Just to show how productive the members of the SPTBATT really are, consider the following statistics. In an average year, SPTBATT:

• issues and delivers 884,000 gallons of fuel;
• issues and delivers 6,325,000 gallons of water;
• drives 2,946,000 kilometers in delivery commitments;
• flies 2,780 hours and 1,032 missions;
• conducts 70 air medevacs;
• provides medical treatment for 14,066 people;
• conducts 48 ground medevacs;
• responds to 40 explosive ordnance incidents;
• destroys 40 land mines and over 110 projectiles discovered in the desert.

If you are looking for a challenging assignment that has a real world mission, and the opportunity to work with soldiers from all over the world then the MFO is for you!

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