Airmen keep base supplied

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Rich Romero
  • 40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) --  Laptops to lumber and even bicycles to B-52 Stratofortresses all have something in common at this forward-deployed location -- none of it gets here without the 15 Airmen with the 40th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Flight.

These supply Airmen deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. maintain a combined inventory of nearly 16,500 items worth almost $50 million.

Those items include the B-52 material readiness spares packages kits. Those kits contain only about 2,000 items, but have the most impact.

“You can’t fly without supply,” said Airman 1st Class Jennipher Maeby, a supply journeyman. “Without us, nothing would move.”

Since the parts kit is crucial, it is the main area that major commands keep a close eye on. Units are expected to maintain an 80-percent fill rate -- how much stock is available to issue at any given time -- on the kits. The supply section here boasts a 95-percent fill rate.

A rate that Senior Master Sgt. Todd Harvey said is virtually impossible to maintain at home station.

“Granted, we’re at the top of the food chain because we’re deployed,” the supply superintendent said, “but that’s still excellent. At home, you might hit the high 70s.”

Not only do the supply Airmen maintain aircraft spare parts, but they receive, account for, distribute, order and issue all equipment and supplies for the entire 40th Air Expeditionary Group. It also is the turn-in point for all unserviceable items that can be repaired at a depot and then returned into the supply pipeline, said Staff Sgt. Ryan Brugman, of the supply section.

“That translates to about 60 aircraft parts received and processed, and (about 520) supply transactions per week,” he said.

One of the biggest challenges the supply Airmen face is limitations in logistics support and delivery time.

“This is my fifth deployment (in 11 years of service), and it definitely takes longer to get parts in here then any other location because we don’t have use of (commercial shipping services),” Sergeant Brugman said. “Also, bulk (General Services Administration) items and lumber take about a month to get here because they have to be shipped by boat.”

Still, civil engineers have managed to order and receive more than 24,000 board feet of lumber for the numerous quality-of-life projects recently undertaken. A board foot equals a board 1-foot square and 1-inch thick.

Another heavily used area of supply is the individual equipment issue and office supply store, particularly since virtually all civil engineers and security forces Airmen are Air National Guardsmen.

“Not everyone deploys with (desert camouflage uniforms) from home station,” Airman Maeby said. “The Guard and Reserve get theirs when they arrive here.”

Not only does supply have a large stock of uniform items available for incoming people, but also replacement uniforms for those who live and work here.

“So many uniforms get ruined here during daily operations,” Sergeant Brugman said.

Comparing supply operations at deployed locations to home station, both Sergeant Brugman and Airman Maeby agree it is demanding, but rewarding.

“Each work center (at home station) is more focused on their particular job, where as here we need to know how to perform a little of everything,” Sergeant Brugman said.

That type of experience benefits Airmen like Airman Maeby who is in her first year in the career field and serving on her first deployment. In her line of work, she said it will not be her last.