Supplying Shindand

Courtesy Photo | From left to right, Senior Airman Walter Morton, Tech Sgt. Ignacio Bentancour, Senior Airman Amber Jones, Staff Sgt. Lakisha Leak and Airman 1st Class Joseph Wallock, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron forward deployed from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing to Shindand, Afghanistan, March 31, 2013. The team of five built two 3,000 square foot Alaskan tents and set-up an entire supply system from the ground up in only 45 days. (Courtesy photo)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

04.15.2013

Story by Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson 

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Adm. Raymond A. Spruance said, "A sound logistics plan is the foundation upon which a war operation should be based. If the necessary minimum of logistics support cannot be given to the combatant forces involved, the operation may fail, or at best be only partially successful."

Tech Sgt. Ignacio Bentancour, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, lead a team of five airmen into Shindand, Afghanistan, to ensure the supply mission there was a success.

"Our job there was to finally set-up a supply system, a supply warehouse and to provide the first accurate inventory," said Bentancour. "We physically built two 3,000 square foot Alaskan tents and basically set-up the whole supply system from the ground up."

The team was forward deployed from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing because the three advisers in country were overwhelmed with the task of training the Afghan army how to run supply.

"Their primary mission over there is to advise so they just didn't have the time or resources to set-up a working supply system," said Bentancour.

The forward deployed team quickly realized the logistical and resource challenges faced by the three advisers on the ground.

"I know this sounds kind of ridiculous but we had one saw, we had one hammer we had no Red Horse type experience and none of us had ever put up an Alaskan tent," said Bentancour. "Not having the job expertise and the tools was difficult, but we still managed to knock it out way ahead of schedule."

While forward deployed some of the team members experienced a side of war fortunately not associated with life at "The Rock."

"We had a rocket hit pretty close and it really hit home for all the guys that have to stay there for a year," said Airman 1st Class Joseph Wallock. "It was a unique experience and I happen to be Skyping with my parents at the time so they heard it too and it was a little hard for them."

As for the leader of the group, hearing the incoming alarm was an all too familiar sound.

"This is my 12th deployment and they've always been in harm's way, I never had a cool one to Germany," said Bentancour. "They've always been to Iraq or Afghanistan and after a while you get a little bit complacent and I probably did not take it as serious as I should."

The five airmen had 60 days to complete their tasked mission of setting up a supply system but pulled together as a team and completed the job in only 45 days.

"I had an opportunity to lead these guys and show them what it takes to build a warehouse which is probably never going to happen again in their career," said Bentancour. "Just being able to be a part of that made me feel like we finally did something that matters."

• Date Taken: 04.15.2013
• Date Posted: 04.15.2013 02:37
• Story ID: 105185
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)