Joint Base Balad Airmen's initiatives shorten supply lines

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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFPN) --  Members of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's Material Management Flight here are changing the way logisticians support warfighters.

Airmen established prepositioned spare parts packages for deploying aircraft and researched prepositioning small-arms weapons for deploying personnel, said Senior Master Sgt. Andy Reisz, the 332nd ELRS Material Management Flight chief.

"One of our biggest challenges has been developing a more efficient aircraft spares support program with the goal of reducing mission capable requirements," he said. "In other words, we have to make sure we have the right parts stocked to support the mission." 

Contingency High Priority Mission Support Kits are in-place spare parts packages that are already on the ground when aircraft arrive here.

This means the deploying unit doesn't need to spend additional time trying to fill cargo aircraft, Sergeant Reisz said.

"Because of the high priority assigned to our mission here, the fill rate for our kits is typically more than 95 percent, which means we have most of the parts on the shelf when an aircraft break occurs," he said.

The kits also reduce the amount of airlift needed for parts. More than 30 pallet positions a year in transport requirements will be saved with the kits, Sergeant Reisz said.

A dedicated aircraft parts store on the North Ramp will complement the kit program by collocating F-16 Fighting Falcon spare parts with the fighters.

"This puts the parts where they're needed -- at maintainers' fingertips," Sergeant Reisz said.

The second program is the weapons prepositioning initiative. This test program examined the feasibility of placing weapons at Joint Base Balad for issue to members when they arrive here. Deploying Airmen with fewer bags saves the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in excess baggage charges, said Maj. David Sanford, the 332nd ELRS commander.

"During Operation Desert Storm, Airmen deployed with up to seven bags each," Major Sanford said. "Prepositioning the weapons reduces the amount of luggage each person carries when he deploys."

Improving processes for deploying aircraft and personnel will allow the Air Force to remain focused on flying, fighting and winning, Major Sanford said.

"By having equipment ready for Airmen and aircraft when they deploy, we can free up valuable cargo lift capacity for other missions," he said. "And the more we can streamline the deployment process, the more Airmen can focus on winning the war on terrorism." 

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