Logistics team makes logical, money-saving move

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Michael Jackson
  • Det. 7, Air Force News Agency
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) --  To support the warfighter, the Air Force airlifts cargo such as computer equipment, supplies and spare parts all around the globe. Some of this cargo has to be shipped with special packaging. 

At Incirlik Air Base, the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Cargo Movement Flight used to contract out crating supply needs to local vendors. Now, they fabricate their own crates, using their own tools and supplies.

The change became official last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the flight's industrial area. 

This new procedure will bring enormous benefits to the unit and the entire Air Force, said Col. Jeffrey Hanson, the 39th Mission Support Group commander.  

"If we asked someone else to build these pallets for us, it would cost about $25 apiece. Now, we can do it for $8 apiece. If you go over the number of pallets you're making, we're saving the Air Force a little less than $15,000 per year. And that's just one thing you're able to do with the capability we have here today.

"We also know logistics is transforming in the Air Force," Colonel Hanson added. "Having this capability is a part of that. We're able to make things happen faster and move our Air Force logistics into the twenty-first century."

The crate fabrication procedure will also allow cargo movement's Airmen to acquire vital skills to use when they deploy.

"The bottom line is, this makes our young Airmen employable downrange because they'll be required to work with this equipment when they get there," said Tech Sgt. Courtney Pierre, cargo movement NCO in charge. "This really gives them valuable training that they'll need."

The ceremony concluded with a demonstration of part of the crate fabrication process. Flight members loaded a C-17 Globemaster III brake into the crate, and the final nail was driven in, making it ready for shipment.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page