CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - A dusty trail caused by vehicles and equipment leads south out of Iraq into the neighboring country of Kuwait. The drawdown is starting to take place. Camp Arifjan is the place that makes it happen.
The maintenance facility at Camp Arijan is the sole caretaker for all equipment coming out of Iraq. What happens at Building 450 here is a unique process that includes over 500 civilian contractors working side by side with servicemembers.
"The bottom line is every piece of metal coming out of Iraq will go through us," said Sgt. 1st Class George Bayer, Maintenance Non-Commisioned Officer in Charge for the 2 401st Army Field Support Brigade. "Right now we have over 34 different programs to retrograde equipment coming out of Iraq. This includes mechanical support, painting, washing, tire repair and transportation."
Bayer went on to comment on the dynamic operation of fixing up a broken piece of equipment at Building 450.
"Basically, we strip them and rebuild them from the ground up," Bayer added. "We fix things up for the Army, Marines and even special forces."
With the drawdown of coalition forces from Iraq already underway, Maj. Anthony Linyard, Support Operations Officer for the 2-401st Army Field Support Brigade, has the busy task of preparing for over 60,000 containers of equipment coming out of Iraq.
"We have been doing war game scenarios in preparation for the drawdown for over the past three months," said Linyard, a Beaufort, S.C. native. "We here are tasked with having the capability to receive, store, fix and reissue equipment coming from up north."
The biggest challenge for Linyard and his troops is the unknown. Things coming in from the drawdown have been slower than expected thus far, and they are anticipating a huge surge in equipment from Iraq at any moment.
"When the bow breaks, we expect the worst and we have to prepare for it," said Linyard. "Right now we have the capacity to handle up to 3,600 pieces per month. Anything over that and we will be stretched to the limit with space and personnel. We alone already repair almost 5,000 tires per month," added Linyard. "As the drawdown heats up, the goal will be close to 7,200 each month for the war effort."
With all the vehicles, trailers and military machines coming out of Iraq, a systematic approach is in place at Camp Arifjan for the needs of the military.
"Lot 58 is the receiving point for all convoys coming out of Iraq," said Chief Warrent Officer Jesse Fields, Maintenance Officer in Charge for the 2-401st Army Field Support Brigade. "In just 24 hours of receiving a rolling piece of equipment, a plan is put together for its use. Within five days it is either moved to a holding area, shipped out, or the process for it to be retrograded begins with us here at Building 450."
With the drawdown in Iraq, and the knowledge of the increasing violence and danger in Afghanistan, there is a big emphasis on getting repaired equipment to support Operation Enduring Freedom. With that in mind, the maintenance facility's focus is on having everything it needs to complete the mission of supplying service members deployed to Afghanistan.
"We have over 16,000 parts in our warehouse to support our efforts," said Fields. "With the drawdown in Iraq, the mission has now shifted on fixing up the stuff coming from the north, and sending it off in support of OEF." Staff Sgt. Larry Johnson, Systems NCOIC for the 2-401st Army Field Support Brigade, gets a strong feeling of purpose with what he does and those he works with at Building 450.
"This is an ever evolving process with a lot of involvement from a number of different levels of the military," said Johnson, a native of Claxton, Ga. "Even a lot of the contractors who work with us here are ex-military, and they too know the importance of getting this equipment repaired to send off to Afghanistan."
With the personnel, tools, and will to fix and ship equipment from a brigade leaving Iraq, to one entering OEF, the maintenance facility here will play an important part with the end result in the War on Terror.
"We are here to help out our armed forces brothers and sisters," said Linyard.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.23.2009 01:25 |
| Story ID: | 40533 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 568 |
| Downloads: | 547 |
This work, The hub of the drawdown, by SPC Brandon Babbitt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
