997th Brigade Support Battalion

Mission: Provide command and control of assigned and attached units, plan and manage logistics support to the 130th Field Artillery Brigade and supported maneuver battalions. On order, conduct domestic support operations in support of federal and state agencies to protect life and property within Kansas. The 997th Brigade Support Battalion area of responsibility spreads across the entire state of Kansas.

Command Leadership and Unit Structure

The 997th Commander is Lt. Col. Travis Zeigler.

The senior noncommissioned officer is Command Sgt. Maj. Melissa Stupka.

The unit is composed of the following:

• Headquarters, Hays and Colby
• 170th Maintenance Company, Wichita
• 330th Brigade Signal Company, Wichita
• 1161st Forward Support Company, Wichita and Pratt
• 250th Forward Support Company, Ottawa and Clay Center
• 995th Maintenance Company, Smith Center, Concordia and Norton

Recent Unit Highlights

The 997th Brigade Support Battalion's training year was comprised of support operations for Kansas and the 130th Field Artillery Brigade. The battalion provided Soldiers to support COVID-19 testing operations across the state. Annual training was conducted at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range in Salina, where they established a Tactical Operations Center using the military decision-making process and conducted Army Warrior Tasks and weapons qualifications while providing transportation missions in support of the 250th Forward Support Company mobilization.

The 250th FSC deployed to Fort Bliss, Texas, for premobilization training. Once training was complete, the 250th FSC proceeded to their mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield. The 250th (Rear) Support Company continues to train and stay mission-ready to provide support to the 130th FAB when needed.

The 1161st Forward Support Company supported the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery's annual training at Fort Riley. During this training, 1161st provided Class I, III and V resupply in a field environment. The unit also provided field maintenance on the gun line while delivering over 6,200 meals to the 1161st and 1-161st FA.

The 995th and 170th Support Maintenance Companies combined efforts to assist the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Riley. Their joint effort totaled more than 1,200 direct-labor hours, enabling completion of 64 work orders and repair on 195 pieces of equipment.

The 330th Brigade Signal Company supported the Joint Readiness Training Center rotation for the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 190th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Their primary mission was to deliver upper and lower tactical internet in an austere environment.