New facility aids transition to enduring presence

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNEWS) --  The transition toward an enduring presence in Southwest Asia requires efficient long-term planning, such as prepositioning equipment in warehouses similar to back at home stations in order to meet the high operations tempo.

This line of thinking has led 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen to acquire an existing storage facility to stock up on parts assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The former aerospace ground equipment warehouse located at the northern end of the base here is in close proximity to other 379th ELRS storage facilities, and is mostly used for B-1B Lancer parts. The additional real estate gives supply members more elbow room, and saves money by sheltering aircraft parts from the heat and dust that would render the parts unserviceable over time.

Traditionally, aircraft maintenance units deploy to expeditionary environments with mobile airlift containers of parts needed to support the aircraft. The limited number of parts will eventually have to be replaced through shipments from the United States.

"The fastest that I've ever seen a part arrive here after being ordered is five days, and that's a long time to wait if you're in the field depending on air support," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Allen, the 379th ELRS supply superintendent.

"The intent is to store high turnover parts that maintainers often need, so aircraft will not be grounded while waiting for them to be shipped in. Items now are available to customers that have never been stored here before," Chief Allen said.

B-1B supply technicians from the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit have tapped into the increased inventory of parts to reduce response time and keep aircraft fully mission capable.

"It really helps provide more parts than if we were by ourselves," said Tech. Sgt. Weston Anderson, the 34th AMU supply NCO in charge. "Instead of ordering parts at the highest priority, we can pick them up at the warehouse."

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

Click here to view the comments/letters page