Photo By Spc. Emily Wilsoncroft | The commander of 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, Lt. Col. William McGarrity (left)...... read more read more
By Spc. Emily J. Wilsoncroft
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Less than one year into Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division's third deployment to Iraq, its ammunition transfer holding point is breaking records.
Since the ATHP was first built in June 2007, its Soldiers have received 2 million pounds of ammunition - 1,004 "short tons," worth $108 million - for use within 3rd CAB's area of operations.
The facility, which lies in a grassy field adjacent to Baghdad International Airport, originally had only eight Soldiers manning it.
"Last time the brigade was here, they didn't have an ATHP," said Staff Sgt. Michael Daigle, ATHP accountables officer, and a native of New Orleans. "We specifically designed this."
The 3rd CAB ATHP processes munitions for the entire brigade, including two forward arming and refueling points at Camp Striker, one at Forward Operating Base Kalsu and one at FOB Hammer. This keeps the ATHP team busy, Daigle said.
"A lot of stuff goes on," he said. "We pick up shipments and residual ammo from the FARPs; we police up unserviceable rounds; we retrograde the ammo packaging to Kuwait."
Spc. James Martin, an ammunitions specialist who is one of 23 Soldiers assigned to the ATHP, said the work has been hot and heavy.
"It's been tough, especially in the heat and the dust," the Jasper, Tenn., native said. "But we've been held to a high standard the whole time and we've kept to that standard."
Another ammunitions specialist, Sgt. Latesha Jones, was one of the ATHP's original eight Soldiers. She said she was shocked when she found out the facility had received 1,004 short tons of munitions during its short time in existence.
"I know we push out a lot of ammo and support a lot of missions, but I didn't think it was that much," said Jones, from Long Island, N.Y. "It's good to be a part of this team. There aren't many of us, but we work as a team to get the mission done."
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2008 20:04 |
| Story ID: | 18117 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 70 |
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