1st TSC CG joins ASG-Qatar colors casing ceremony
By Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe
| 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command | June 14, 2021
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar --
The commanding general of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command joined Area Support Group-Qatar's end-of-mission ceremony and casing of the group's colors by its last command team, June 10.
"I want to take a moment to recognize everyone who has been part of ASG-Qatar over many, many years," said Maj. Gen. John P. Sullivan, whose 1st TSC handles all logistics in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. "Many are in the audience today."
Everyone who had any part of ASG-Qatar, which was established in 1992 to facilitate U.S. military and humanitarian operations in the region, deserves credit for the group's success, he said. "They rightfully take pride in that, as they should."
Sullivan added that he was grateful he could always rely on the ASG-Qatar team.
"Whether it was logistics, whether it was security, whether it was medical materiel or vaccine distribution," he said. "Whenever we asked ASG-Qatar to execute, it did so to an extremely high standard."
During the ceremony, as the ASG-Qatar commander, Col. Stephen A. Fabiano and his senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Jose Hernandez, cased the ASG-Qatar colors, beginning the transfer of the mission to ASG-Jordan, and that group's new commander, Col. Toni K. Sabo.
After Fabiano and Hernandez cased the ASG-Qatar colors, by folding it upon the staff and then casing the flag in a camouflage cloth sheath, the official party formed a diamond.
Hernandez, representing the ASG-Qatar Soldiers passed the cased colors to Fabiano. Fabiano as the departing commander then passed the cased colors to Sullivan, which symbolized the end of ASG-Qatar as an active unit. Finally, Sullivan passed the cased colors to Sabo, signaling that although ASG-Qatar has ceased to exist, its mission continues through Sabo and ASG-Jordan.
The merger of ASG-Qatar with ASG-Jordan was part of the Army's ongoing realignment of assets and personnel in the Middle East.
Sullivan awarded Fabiano the Legion of Merit for his tenure as the commander and said the colonel's influence extended far beyond the gates of the camp here.
"He has truly been a master of building and sustaining strong work relationships," he said. "Steve, you've done phenomenal."
In his remarks, Fabiano thanked members of his team and recounted that in just two previous years of his command, they shuttered three installations, handled COVID-19 protocols and quarantine operations and supported the humanitarian response to the Aug. 4 port explosion in Beirut.
"You've surpassed my expectations," he said. "It's been my distinct honor and privilege to serve with you over the last two years."
Sabo spoke and detailed her plans to building on the success Fabiano achieved.
Addressing the formation of Soldiers and the guests in the audience, Sabo said she was focused on the future.
"In the months ahead, we have much to do," she said. "I look forward to leading this team and working with all of our partners to accomplish this important mission."