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25th Brigade Support Battalion

Opahey Shared Vision:

The Opahey Battalion is the Army’s premier Arctic sustainment formation comprised of highly trained, cohesive, and adaptive teams ready to enable the Arctic Wolves’ reach, endurance, and freedom of action in extreme cold weather environments and mountainous terrain.

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Lieutenant Colonel Scott Pinkstaff was and raised in Marshall, Illinois. In 2004, he received his commission through the Army ROTC at the Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. 

LTC Pinkstaff’s initial assignment was with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He served as the Maintenance Platoon Leader and Shop Officer in Bravo Company, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, followed by service as the Bravo Company Executive Officer in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  He served as the Support Operations Maintenance Officer for the 704th Brigade Support Battalion upon redeployment.

In 2007, LTC Pinkstaff assumed command of the Echo Forward Support Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Garry Owen, deploying the company in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM as part of the 4th Bridge Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

As a Major, LTC Pinkstaff served as the Brigade Logistics Officer (S4) for the 2d Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, and the Battalion Executive Officer for the 2d Brigade Support Battalion, 2d Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In 2018 he transitioned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he served as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General and the Secretary of the General Staff. 

While assigned to the United States Transportation Command, LTC Pinkstaff served as a Current Operations Officer and then the Command Writer for the Commander’s Action Group.

LTC Pinkstaff’s military education includes the Ordnance Officer Basic Course and the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Command and Staff. 

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation (One Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (Four Bronze Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral Two). 

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CSM Laurence E. Gardiner II enlisted on 18 December 1990. In 1991, he completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, GA as a Multichannel Systems Operator. Honorably discharged in 1995, he reenlisted in 2005, completing BCT again at Fort Knox, KY, and AIT at Redstone Arsenal, AL as an Avenger Maintainer, MOS 94T.

CSM Gardiner has served in leadership positions in Acquisition, Air Defense, Armor, Infantry, Signal, Sustainment, and TRADOC units as a Team Leader, Senior/Drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Sergeant Major. His assignments include Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Bliss, TX; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; Redstone Arsenal, AL; Fort Lee, VA; Germany, South Korea and has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

CSM Gardiner’s military education includes the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course and all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System. He is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 71 and the University of Southern Maine, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Political Science.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army Drill Sergeant Badge, the German Army Marksmanship Badge (Schützenschnur, Silver) and the Ordnance Corps Order of Samuel Sharpe.