ETDC supplies gear downrange so deployed troops don’t have to

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Lisa Polarek
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  The 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s expeditionary theater distribution center here is leading the way in expeditionary mobility gear processing to make life easier for thousands of deploying Airmen.

The center is part of an Air Force test where Airmen can deploy from their home stations to the Central Asia theater without their A, B and C mobility bags. When they arrive here to stay, or before heading “downrange,” they are issued everything they will need from the ETDC. Airmen are still required to bring a helmet, gas mask, web belt and canteen.

Master Sgt. John Bangs, 376th ELRS ETDC noncommissioned officer in charge, said the Air Force was spending millions of dollars on overweight bags. He said the Air Force is also suffering from a loss of seats on flights downrange because everyone needed to deploy with so much equipment.

The idea to build a supply of bags in theater was long overdue according to many logisticians.

“It puts less strain on people coming over here. They don’t worry about toting more bags and it makes things run more smoothly. I’m eager to help and be a part of this process,” said Airman 1st Class Pamela Obenchain, ETDC technician.

Among customers, the idea was just as popular.

“I think not having to lug all of those bags back home is great. Not only will it save the Air Force money but it will make the in-processing time back home much faster and easier,” said Staff Sgt. Celina Mallison, 376th Expeditionary Communications Squadron alternate communications security manager.

Some Air Force career fields did not participate in the test such as aircrew, security forces, civil engineering, combat control and the Guard and Reserve Airmen, because their gear is tailored to their individual unit taskings.

“We’re still collecting from (the last rotation) and we will turn those bags into robust, serviceable ones,” Sergeant Bangs said.

The team of eight inventory the bags, then replace any missing items so the bag can be reissued.

“We’re a staging area for Afghanistan,” Sergeant Bangs said. “With less weight (on the aircraft), people are quicker into the fight.”

The team was recently put to the test when a group from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., transited through here. The McChord Airmen arrived here with nothing, and the ETDC Airmen were able to get the bags issued to the 15 people in an hour and a half.

“Sometimes we only have a few hours (to issue bags),” Sergeant Bangs said. “The fact that my people were able to issue mobility bags in such a short time shows how aggressive they are. They do whatever it takes to get people downrange.”

According to Sergeant Bangs, the program is still in its infancy stage.

“We’re trying to get the bags to 100 percent,” he said. “Our intent is to turnover 100 percent accurate bags to the next rotation so they can issue them out.”

In light of some limiting factors such as a shortage of warehouse space and the current location of the facility Sergeant Bangs said his team is pressing on with their mission.

“We’re taking what we’ve got now to make a viable product to meet our goals here and (U.S. Central Command Air Forces) vision,” he said.

And, because some ETDC technicians feel a sense of responsibility to the Airmen they outfit, more control of the equipment issued is a good thing.

“It’s reassuring to know that Airmen don’t have outdated gear as they deploy forward to possible hostile environments,” said Staff Sgt. Ralph Ortiz, ETDC technician.

The main beneficiaries in the new system though are the deploying Airmen who will now have a lot less to carry.

“The ETD center sounds like a great idea,” said Senior Airman Isabell Segovia, 376th Expeditionary Mission Support Group information manager. “I won’t say no to a helping hand.”