Soldiers get one-stop shopping for personnel issues

Courtesy Photo | San Diego native Sgt. Andrzej Kujawski of the brigade legal office, helps a Soldier fill out a power of attorney. Legal services is only one of many support offices in the ALOC.  

TAJI, IRAQ

09.07.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Spc. Derek Del Rosario
Aviation Brigade PAO

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Having personnel issues squared away is an important part of morale and well-being of Soldiers completing their mission here in the Operation Iraqi Freedom theater.

For Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division's Aviation Brigade, there is a building where Soldiers can re-enlist, get a power of attorney, request supplies and handle their leave issues. All of these services are located in one place: the Administration and Logistical Operations Center.

The ALOC serves as the hub for all personnel and logistical concerns a Soldier in the Brigade might encounter. The brigade S-1 office, located in the ALOC, is prepared to handle human resource issues while the brigade S-4 handles the logistical side. Also located in the ALOC are different services such as legal assistance, finance, food services, property book office, retention office and equal opportunity, just to name a few.

"The ALOC is a consolidated mix of staff offices," said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Parker, Equal Opportunity noncommissioned officer in charge and Washington, D.C., native. "By having all these staff offices in one place, it allows us and Soldiers coming here to get a lot done. It's like a one-stop shop."

Master Sgt. Rick Jay, Retention NCO and Alexandria, Ala., native, says the ALOC staff attempts to closely mirror support that is provided while back in garrison.

"It is a broad spectrum of support," Jay said. "The ALOC offers every logistical support a Soldier needs that he or she would receive in the rear. We try to ensure normal logistical flow while in theater."

Soldiers in the S-1 Office handle human resource issues, such as career management, reception, redeployment and leave. Lakewood, Colo., native Capt. David Brodsky, S-1 officer, feels that the variety of services the S-1 provides is an invaluable part of the Soldier and brigade readiness.

"We provide a broad spectrum of services for the Soldiers"from pay issues to promotions," Brodsky said.

Legal support is also offered to Soldiers in the brigade, a service that Taccoa, Ga., native Sgt. John Sosebee of the legal office feels is an integral part to unit integrity.

"The legal office assists commanders with disciplinary issues, ensuring everything stays under control," Sosebee said. "We also provide essential legal assistance to Soldiers, which can help Soldiers take care of their families even from far away."

One of the more extensive yet sometimes underrated staff offices is the S-4, which handles logistics. Few know the large amount of services that fall under S-4, such as supply, contracts, property book and food service just to name a few. Maj. Andy Watson, logistical officer from Overland Park, Kan., feels that the services under the S-4 umbrella benefit from working closely together.

"I think everyone's job dovetails with another, so it is a great asset to be working in a general common location," Watson said. "For example, it is food services that handle getting MREs and water, but transporting them and the movement of Class 1 items is a logistical function."

Pittsburgh native Warrant Officer Roberta Sheffield, food service officer, said food service plays an integral part in a Soldier's everyday life.

"Being deployed, Soldiers work long and strenuous hours, making the need for a well-balanced meal with variety very important," Sheffield said. "We also do other services like bring out food to guards or plan for birthday celebrations, making food services both a health and morale issue."

Along with well-being and morale of the troops, Chief Warrant Officer Sandra Pack, property book officer and Ft. Sumter, S.C., resident, feels services under S-4 are mission-essential services.

"The property book office accounts for all the Army equipment and requisitions," Pack said. "We handle brigade-specific equipment. We manage that property so the mission can be completed."

Services provided in the ALOC help Soldiers do their job during duty hours, but Sgt. Regina Douge, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and contracting NCO, develops projects that help Soldiers during their off-duty time as well.

"Some projects that I've coordinated have been important for mission and security, like setting up fences around the flight line," Douge said. "But our services can extend to things like getting sandbags and gravel around the living areas, and maintenance in rooms."

The services provided in the ALOC provide the backbone to mission readiness but often go unnoticed.

"The personnel in the support offices know they are doing their jobs well when they never hear about themselves, because that means Soldiers have their food, equipment and issues squared away," Watson said. "If you look at the basic needs of Soldiers"food, shelter, a means to survive'then you realize that a Soldier can't eat, communicate, or have the equipment they need to do their job without logistics having a hand in the operation."

Making sure the Soldiers are provided for is not an easy task, but for Soldiers like Sgt. 1st Class Olivette Stepney of Talladega, Ala., and S-4 NCOIC, it is something that the ALOC personnel work hard to accomplish.

"Getting what everyone needs in a timely manner can be a challenge, especially when Soldiers want things right away," Stepney said. "But for me, there is no such thing as "I can't." It makes me feel good when I go above the call of duty to do my job, and when I say, "I can.""

• Date Taken: 09.07.2005
• Date Posted: 09.07.2005 14:04
• Story ID: 2915
• Location: TAJI, IQ