BCS3 is the system for today’s Logistics

Photo By Sgt. Adrian Muehe | Jeremy Lowe, a field support engineer for Tapestry Solutions, and a Lometa, Texas, native, teaches leaders from the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), how to use the Battle Command Sustainment Support System (BCS3) during a class at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on July 28. The purpose of this class was to educate these leaders about what the system does as Soldiers from the 103rd ESC will be implementing it to moniter the movement of equipment as part of the drawdown of troops and supplies from the country.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

07.28.2010

Story by Pfc. Adrian Muehe 

135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Select leaders Soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) took part in a leader’s course on the Battle Command Sustainment Support System July 28 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

The BCS3 is a logistics command and control tool used to monitor the movement of convoys and supplies all over the world, and it is being used more frequently in Iraq. This course focused on the Logistics Reporting Tool, one of the features the BCS3 has to offer.

“What it does, is that it takes feeds from different sources, whether it’s transponders from vehicles, radio frequency tags, or sustainment systems, and it uses it all in one system so commanders can make good decisions based on the best information available,” said Jeremy Lowe, a field support engineer for Tapestry Solutions, and a Lometa, Texas, native.

The system has been in use since 2005, but until recently it wasn’t widely used in theater. According to Lowe, this is due in part to how often the program has been updated, with the latest update happening in August 2009.

With logistical equipment being moved constantly as part of the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq, the BCS3 is starting to draw attention.

“Right now the conditions are right for this system to be implemented,” said Lowe. “(United States Division–South) is using it heavily. The conditions in theater are set for an explosion in use of the BCS3.”

The 103rd ESC is prepared to be the first ESC to fully implement the system in Iraq. Soldiers have been training on the program since the unit started to prepare for their deployment.

“We have several Soldiers that are already trained to use this system, and we continue to train soldiers to build upon this level of experience,” said Sgt. Maj. Monte Waller, the support operations sergeant major with the 103rd ESC, and a Dodge City, Kan., native. “I am fully confident we can get this system up and running.”

The date for the completion of the drawdown continues to creep closer as U.S. forces move into Operation New Dawn. As one of the last ESCs to deploy to Iraq, one responsibility of the 103rd ESC is to move a majority of the equipment that has been collected and left in Iraq over the years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Waller said this tracking system will make that task a lot easier.

“It will save a lot of time and man-hours,” said Waller. “We have Soldiers that are very concerned as they try to calculate how much of this equipment is being moved and track where it’s going.”

After all the updates, Lowe feels that the BCS3 will be a vital factor in the final days of U.S. operations in Iraq, especially for the 103rd ESC, who will be overseeing most of the logistical operations.

“Past ESCs have said they were going to use BCS3, but they only made inches of progress,” Lowe said to the class. “I feel these guys are going to make miles.”

• Date Taken: 07.28.2010
• Date Posted: 08.07.2010 09:29
• Story ID: 54113
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ