Hamburg native first woman to command U.S. Army Delta Company FSC in Kentucky

Being active and not being trapped in an office is very important to Hamburg resident Justine Sacco.

As a captain for the U.S. Army, Sacco makes sure she spends as much time as possible not behind a desk, but out in the field with the 109 members of her command.

On Dec. 16, 2011, 24-year-old Sacco became the first woman to assume command of Delta FSC, 26th Brigade Support Battalion, forward support company of 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Sacco is a 2004 graduate of Frontier High School and a 2008 graduate of Niagara University, where she majored in political science and international relations.

She received her commission through the ROTC program at Niagara University and her military education included Airborne School, Air Assault School, Aerial Delivery Material Officer Course and Quartermaster Officer Basic Course.

She has been assigned as a distribution platoon leader and as the support operations, operations officer before assuming this command. She has been in Kentucky since April 2009.

Sacco has also earned the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Rigger Badge.

“I never wanted a job just in an office,” Sacco said. “I wanted to do a job being active and leading soldiers. This is exactly where I want to be.”

According to Sacco, she spends as little time as possible in the office and grabs every opportunity she can to go out into the field with her command.

The job she and Delta Company FSC perform is one of support for the ground troops, those who are out on the front lines.

“In a war situation, we are the ones who have to go out and retrieve vehicles that were blown up while they were out doing recognizance,” she said.

The company is supplied with heavy-duty delivery trucks and Hummer gun trucks to get the job done.

Not only do they retrieve blown up or broken down machinery, they also deliver supplies to the forward lines and to the local residents.

“When we were in Afghanistan (she spent 12 months there from 2010-2011), we worked with the locals every chance we got.

“We are training them on how to handle the situations there. Our job is to help them get on their feet, train them and have them run their own country,” Sacco said.

Stateside, Sacco continues working with her company, making sure that everyone is well trained and are prepared when they are deployed again in September.

“When we were there before, we saw some action and we had no casualties. That is one of our jobs, to bring everyone home OK,” she said.

According to Sacco, being over in Afghanistan really made her appreciate the comforts of life here in the United States.

“You can’t get anything over there,” she said.

“That is why when we get those letters, toiletries, pajamas, books and all the other items that are sent over by the schools, VA groups, churches and all the others, it really does make a difference to us.

“Even if we don’t know the people who sent the items, it means a lot to us to know that we are being thought of and they care about us and what we are doing,” Sacco said.

A big support group for Sacco here back home is her family: Joseph Sacco, her father; Kathleen Sacco, her step-mother (mother Judith passed away when she was a child); Jillian Aquilar, her older sister and her family including two nephews and one niece.

“My sister is very proud of me and always comes out to any of the events,” Sacco said. “She flew out for when I was deployed and was there when I came back. That is really important.

“My parents are very supportive of my being in the military. Dad was a bit surprised in the beginning, but then not really when he thought about how I really am,” she said. “Those who really know me, knew this is what I’m meant to do.”

Sacco has not forgotten her roots either.

“Every time I get a chance I’m bragging about Western New York,” she said. “I do get some ribbing about our snow from the southern members of our company, not this year though, not yet anyway. I was home for a green Christmas this past year..”

Sacco will be in command of Delta Company for 18 months and she will be responsible for just about every aspect of the 109 members training and discipline.

“I am responsible for this unit and all the people in it,” she said.

“This means their discipline, their training at all different levels, granting leave, checking in on them if they are sick, basically in charge of everything they do. Nothing is taken for granted,” Sacco said.

“I love this job, I have had nothing but positive experiences and I’m looking forward to commanding this great group of people,” Sacco said.