Photo By Maj. A. Sean Taylor | U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christina Winfield (center) and Chief Warrant...... read more read more
SOUTHWEST ASIA – A small group of service members from the U.S. Army Reserve 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) based in Indianapolis and Soldiers from the active component 82nd Division Sustainment Brigade based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, make up a specialized logistics team with a the mission to advise and assist Iraqi security forces in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
The mission of the 310th advise and assist team under the direction of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) from Fort Hood, Texas, and the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is to support the Iraqi security force logistics depot based at Camp Taji, Iraq, by identifying their needs and influencing their decisions to meet sustainment and logistics challenges.
Consistently evolving to meet operational requirements, logistics operations are highly critical to success in all military operations.
“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 only be partially successful,” said Adm. Raymond A. Spruance, World War II veteran.
One of the tasks handled by the 310th A&A supply and services section is to assist the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq with asset visibility and proper receipt and transfer of parts and equipment received by the ISF through foreign military sales (FMS).
The FMS program is authorized by the Arms Export Control Act and allows the U.S. to sell defense articles and services to foreign countries and international organizations when the president formally finds that to do so will strengthen the security of the U.S. and promote world peace.
Repair parts for the Iraqi military’s fleet of M1A1 Abrams tanks have been the majority of pallets arriving at the Camp Taji airfield through the FMS program. The 310th A&A has worked diligently to ensure those parts arrive where they are needed most.
A critical aspect of mission success, it took time for the A&A team to build relationships and trust with their Iraqi counterparts allowing them to have access to their logistic warehouses.
“Building and sustaining trust was a constant effort through numerous leader engagements,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christina Winfield, a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier with the 310th SC(E) and a supply and support activity technician with the A&A team. “We had to learn the concept of ‘friendship before business’ was necessary to build working relationships.”
“First we had to show our support and reassure them that we were there to help,” Winfield said. “Second, we had to learn about their culture and customs, which involved drinking a lot of tea [chai].”
It is often times difficult to judge whether an advise and assist team is making progress and making a difference. However, the S&S team has been able to track visible outcomes.
“We have tracked the receipt of over 12,000 tanks parts worth approximately $9 million,” said Capt. Patrick O’Connell, a logistics officer with the 82nd DSB and the 310th A&A S&S branch chief. “Since the FMS tracking and deliveries began with our team, 22 M1A1 tanks have come up to a ‘fully mission capable’ status [a 20-percent operational readiness increase].”
“Since the Americans arrived, we have had faster delivery of high demand parts,” said Iskander Hieden, a materials manager with a civilian company contracted with the repair of ISF tanks. “It only takes about two weeks to get what we need.”
“We have had no gaps in receiving parts because of the Americans’ help,” said Iraqi army Col. Zaid Abdul, parts warehouse manager. “We are fighting Daesh and they must continue to help us.”
“Our S&S team is fortunate in that we actually see tangible outcomes from our work,” O’Connell said. “We have been a part of fielding sets of equipment to [three] Iraqi army brigades and have personally placed weapons and gear in the hands of Iraqi Soldiers who are ready to fight.”
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2015 05:33 |
| Story ID: | 171538 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Hometown: | TAJI, IQ |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LIBERTY, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 645 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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