Photo By Laurie Pearson | Marines from 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, from reserve units all...... read more read more
Marines from 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, from reserve units all over the country, to include Puerto Rico, have been activated on one-year orders and sent in support of Fleet Support Division on the Yermo Annex aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif. beginning mid-July.
“This is a Marine Corps Logistics Command mission,” explained Capt. Kevin Harris, operations officer with MARFORRES. “The 42 Marines sent to MCLB Barstow will assist ADCON and OPCON (Administrative Control and Operational Control) duties.”
After the tornado hit the logistics facility in Albany, Georgia in 2016, they requested a flow of Marines to help fix the damage done by the tornado.
“While there, the Marines also began to update their parts procurement system, to Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps,” Harris said. “They’ll be conducting inventory, LTIs (Limited Technical Inspections), assist with maintenance requirements, and then upgrade to GCSS-MC.”
Harris was an active duty Marine for 14 years, serving with the Corps’ 6th Marine Regiment, and also with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. In his experience, the rest of the Marine Corps has fully implemented GCSS-MC for nearly four years. The only command in the Corps that has not transitioned yet is LOGCOM. Given that LOGCOM handles all of the equipment at some point in the lifespan of its use, it is critical to get them onboard with the new system he explained.
“Albany initiated this activation of reservists based on tornado damage,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Silkowski, FSD director. “Barstow will be picking up the slack in logistical needs during Albany’s recovery phase and these reservists are definitely a force multiplier.”
The additional man power will ensure that the workload continues to process efficiently.
"We're excited to be here," said Cpl. Jonathan Pickett, an engineer equipment operator for the reserves from Decalb, Illinois. "Our job is to conduct functional tests on all of the equipment as we inspect it. The minor issue we face is that, for transport, we only maintain a minimal amount of fluids, such as deisel fuel and hydrolic oil, so that it's not wasted if the equipment is kept in storage for an extended period of time."
In addition, while in storage, there is not a constant trickle of electricity keeping batteries charged, he explained. Given the intense conditions of the desert, and the maintenance methods, the Marines must first prepare the equipment to then be tested and inspected.
"We're not quite sure how much of this equipment we will be inspecting over the next year," said Sgt. Billy Ray, maintenance chief, from Beaverton, Or. "We're ready and willing to cover all of it, though!"
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| Date Taken: | 08.10.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2017 16:52 |
| Story ID: | 244491 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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