Center saves millions, improves warfighting abilities

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Bazar
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Airmen deploying in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom can travel a little lighter now, thanks to the new Expeditionary Theater Distribution Center.

The center here is one of three consolidated mobility bag distribution hubs that went fully operational this rotation, saving taxpayers an average of $51 million annually. It houses thousands of bags of military equipment, chemical warfare gear, first aid kits, body armor and plenty of replacement parts for the mobility bags.

“We make sure the people who go downrange have reliable equipment to perform the mission,” said Senior Airman Cheryl Burney, a 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron supply journeyman deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. “We check the equipment for damage and outdated items. In a way, we’re responsible for (keeping Airmen alive).”

Since the base began storing equipment, the ETDC has grown exponentially, said Capt. Chris Esoldo, 379th ELRS readiness flight commander.

“It’s amazing to see how much the program has grown in the 10 months I’ve been here,” Captain Esoldo said. “We didn’t have the supply or return tents and we only had one-third of the warehouse.”

The warehouse, a 120,000-square-foot storage facility, houses a newly finished $1.2 million racking system that can hold approximately 4,400 pallets, and features state-of-the-art pivoting forklifts called stock selectors. The stock selector has swinging front forks that allow it to maneuver in 5-foot walkways, compared to the 8- to 12-foot walkways reserved for traditional forklifts.

Stockpiles began growing when Airmen from previous deployments turned their gear in to the newly formed center. Since that time, Airmen and U.S. Air Force Central Command officials have helped the equipment stock grow, with the value constantly floating around the $100 million mark.

During one deployment alone, the center took on 6,500 mobility bags, saving more than $520,000. Officials hope to house more than 2,700 A Bags (military equipment), 4,000 B bags (cold-weather gear) and 17,000 C Bags (chemical warfare gear) by the end of this rotation.

But this is just the beginning, Captain Esoldo said.

“This is just a stepping stone marker,” Captain Esoldo said. “I’d like to see Airmen receive their equipment at the LRS unit at their final destination. Intra-theatre movement can still be hindering because loadmasters have to add just that much more cargo to the plane when they could be moving bombs or aircraft parts.”

Whether or not intra-theater movement occurs, the center has improved the Air Force’s ability to fight the war more safely while saving taxpayers’ money.