3rd HBCT Ministry Team Open Soldiers Pantry at FOB Kalsu

Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. Antonio Jones, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, cut the ribbon as part of opening of the Soldier’s pantry at Forward Operating Base, Kalsu, Dec. 8. Stocked with contributions from a variety of organizations from the United States, the facility offers everything from snacks to DVDs to Soldiers for free.
Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, fill bags with items from the Soldier’s pantry at Forward Operating Base, Kalsu, Dec. 8. The Pantry, which will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, offers a variety of quality of life items for free.
Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, go through items offered at the Soldier’s pantry at Forward Operating Base, Kalsu, Dec. 8. The Pantry, which is stocked with donations ranging from snack foods to paperback books, offers a variety of quality of life items to Soldiers for free.

Story and photos by Sgt. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs Office


FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – The chaplains and chaplain assistants of the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion and the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a supply pantry for the Soldiers of FOB Kalsu, Dec. 8.

The pantry, which is stocked from contributions from organizations like Operation Soldier, church groups and independent businesses from across the country, offers free items to Soldiers three days a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The pantry offers a variety of items including food, drink mixes, paperback books, greeting cards, DVDs, T-shirts, hygiene products and playing cards.

“The opening of this building shows everyone here how much the people back home care about us, but it also shows what our chaplain assistants are capable of,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray, 203rd BSB. “From the beginning, they got out front on this and made it happen. This is a great example of what taking care of Soldiers is all about.”