Supply Airmen keep deployed essentials on shelf

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shad Eidson
  • 416th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE, Uzbekistan (AFPN) --  Continuously keeping supplies on the shelf to support military operations here falls on the shoulders of a group of Airmen from the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron’s supply section.

They ensure warfighters have the necessary gear and parts to effectively fight the war on terrorism. They are responsible for the entire Air Force supply operation here, from aircraft parts to office supplies.

The first week on the job was rough, but the new team soon had all the parts falling into place, said Tech. Sgt. Johnny Brown, the supply section’s superintendent deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. But picking up the pace was not hard for anyone with good experience in the supply career field, he said.

Planes fly here every day, and parts can get worn out or break, Sergeant Brown said. The supply Airmen ensure people have all they need to keep the airlift mission going successfully. And they need a lot.

The shop’s Airmen handle 900 incoming parts each week. They coordinate with supply channels to order, ship and receive them daily.

"For many, this is their first deployment, and their operational experience has been limited," Sergeant Brown said. No one in the supply section here has worked directly with one another before, but that has not stopped them from forming into an efficient team.

"So far, the experience has been good for my first deployment because the people are friendly and everyone understands (each other)," said Airman 1st Class Diana Ortiz who is deployed from Mildenhall.

Only in her second year in the Air Force and with plans to re-enlist, Airman Ortiz said she loves the job and finds it satisfying. Being deployed has helped her work with the aircraft supply system.

"This is a great chance to learn a whole new area of my career that I have never dealt with before," Airman Ortiz said. "It feels good to finish the 300th supply transaction for today even though you know you have another 300 that will come in tomorrow."

Senior Airman Ryan Todd, also from Mildenhall, said he finds his first deployment easier than what he was expecting from everyone’s warnings. The hardest part for him is being away from home and friends.

"I have always worked long hours, whatever it takes, to get the job done," said Airman Todd who has spent the past two weeks handling more than 1 million repair turn-ins to support the flying mission. “If we drag our feet in supply, it delays the mission.”

Airman Todd said he makes sure all items have been processed to where they are needed at the end of the day. While a productive day keeps the mission going smoothly, the day goes by fast, which is an added benefit.

The Airmen said they are dedicated to their piece of the puzzle that equals mission success. If a C-130 Hercules needs spare parts, they order and receive them. If an office needs anything from toner cartridges to light bulbs for the mission, they either have it or they have it on the way.