Theater distribution center equips Airmen

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan --  Entering the 376th Expeditionary Theater Distribution Center's issue and return building correlates to walking into a wholesale outfitters store -- all the gear one needs to get through the mission.

"The primary purpose of this ETDC is to outfit all battlefield Airmen going downrange to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the force protective items that are needed," said Tech. Sgt. Aaron Ross, the center NCO in charge at the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here.

Having ETDCs in the U.S. Central Command Air Forces area of responsibility provides Airmen and the Air Force a few benefits.

"The ETDC is a central location and repository for critical personal equipment so people don't have to haul it all the way from their home base into the theater," said Lt. Col. Seann Cahill, the 376th ELRS commander.

The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's ETDC contains more than $7.8 million in chemical gear, $8.5 million in body armor assets, cold weather gear and other various individual equipment items, said Sergeant Ross, who is deployed from the 319th LRS at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.

By having this type of equipment stocked and stored here, "it means less baggage for Airmen to carry, and the less weight in baggage allows more passengers to fly on the aircraft," he said. "All Airmen headed to Afghanistan are briefed upon their arrival at Manas to pick up their equipment at the ETDC."

The ETDC here is one of three in the CENTAF AOR. These repositories save the Air Force millions of dollars in excess baggage costs during each air expeditionary force rotation.

The ETDC issues all required assets to Airmen going into Afghanistan but also collects all issued equipment when Airmen are returning home.

"Everything issued here is an accountable item and must be returned," said Sgt. Ross.

It is important that no matter what condition the item is in, that it is returned to the ETDC because the staff is responsible for tracking shelf-life and usable life rates of all equipment.

"We ensure all the assets in the bag don't expire and are still serviceable," said Airman Alper Gotken, a distribution center technician deployed from the 319th LRS at Grand Forks AFB. "Every asset has a shelf life with a date. Anything that is within the six months of its shelf life will not be issued, and that item will be replaced in the bag. We are also looking for recalled items by matching serial and lot numbers."

The ETDC here has moved into a new location and the new facility helps with the equipment issue and return process.

"The inside of the new facility accommodates more than 100 people at a time where as the old facility only had a small waiting area," said Sergeant Ross. "This helps in situations where we only have a few hours to get Airmen their gear and send them on their way."

The attention to detail and professionalism of the nine-member ETDC staff does not go unnoticed by leadership.

"These are some of the most dedicated people we have," said Colonel Cahill who is deployed from 92nd LRS at Fairchild AFB, Wash. "For the Airmen who may be here for only a few days and not know anyone and are waiting for aircraft transport to Afghanistan, their only real interaction with other Airmen at Manas may be the Airmen assigned to the ETDC.

"These ETDC members perform an ambassadorial function and are a big part of the mobility machine and LRS family," he said.

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