IBA Warehouse armors returning troops for battle

Photo By Sgt. Jason Adolphson | IBA Warehouse supervisor Christopher Truitt and Sgt. 1st Class Louis Jimenez, 593rd Special Troops Battalion, visually look over random, small arms protective inserts at the IBA Warehouse, Jan. 12. Soldiers receive new plates while away on leave, but Jimenez says the system of "checking and re-checking" is the best way to assure quality care for protecting troops.  

CAMP LSA, KUWAIT

01.14.2010

Story by Spc. Jason Adolphson 

1st Theater Sustainment Command

CAMP LSA, Kuwait — Round-the-clock efforts of employees at the Interceptor Body Armor Warehouse here ensure more than 1,000 Soldiers coming in and out of country each day can return refreshed and better armored.

Soldiers and civilians working at the Army's one-of-a-kind warehouse, house IBAs for Soldiers visiting home. While the troops are away, the team removes and replaces Soldiers' small arms protective insert plates from their outer tactical vests and sends the used plates off for inspection.

IBA warehouse supervisor Christopher Truitt said about 35 percent of the plates have some sort of flaw, including ripping of the outer cloth.

A Soldier working at the warehouse emphasized the importance of proper care for tactical gear. "You need to treat your gear with the same care as your weapon," Sgt. 1st Class Louis Jimenez, 593rd Special Troops Battalion, said. "[OTVs and SAPIs] have saved a lot of lives and factor in a high ratio for survival on the battle field."

A primary way to detect the condition of a plate is with an X-ray.

Inspection processors scan the SAPIs to determine serviceability and quality. The plates are then sent back to the IBA warehouse, categorized by size and usability. Troops and contractors account for the equipment and ship it back to the U.S. for processing.

Jimenez said there are a lot of rewarding factors about his job.

"Every Soldier has a 100 percent scanned, serviceable plate," Jimenez said. "[Our job is] insuring every mother, father, husband, wife, son and daughter walk onto the battle field feeling better about their gear to continue on with the mission."

An instruction guide comes with each new set of new plates to inform Soldiers how to care for the equipment.

• Date Taken: 01.14.2010
• Date Posted: 01.14.2010 13:52
• Story ID: 43824
• Location: CAMP LSA, KW