Photo By Michael Vanpool | Leaders of the 101st Sustainment Brigade gathered at the Mortuary Affairs Collection...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and commissioned officers of 101st Sustainment Brigade and Special Troops Battalion attended a leader professional development at the Mortuary Affairs Collection Point-Bagram March 26.
LPDs are held monthly for the staff and offer a hands-on glimpse into the jobs of the multi-faceted brigade. This month, the Lifeliners learned about the operations of the MACP–Bagram.
“It’s good that [the 101st Sustainment leaders] came here and understand the process because not a lot of people understand what we do,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Adamski, non-commissioned officer in charge of the MACP–Bagram, and a member of the 111th Quartermaster Company attached to 101st Sustainment Brigade. “We wanted them to learn the process and that there is a process we go through.”
Adamski explained that her unit receives stores and ships human remains and personal effects for Regional Commands East, North and Central, regardless of nationality or status. In addition to handling remains of humans, the MACP–Bagram also handles fallen military working dogs, who are cremated.
The NCOs and soldiers at the MACP–Bagram, from the 111th Quartermaster Company, Fort Lee, Va., demonstrated the steps of their mission from the reception of a fallen hero to the ramp ceremony on Bagram Air Field, the beginning of their return to the United States.
Three words - dignity, reverence and respect - are prominently displayed all along the walls of the tin building. The LPD allowed the leaders to see how the small team at the MACP–Bagram lives these words with every fallen hero that comes through heir building.
“I think the training is positive because it gives people on the outside an understanding of the respect we give to the Soldiers,” said U.S. Army Cpl. Libtobra Swinson, a mortuary affairs specialist who just began her six month deployment to Bagram. “And it lets them know that the soldier is taken care of, and that their personal effects are handled in the same respect as the soldier.”
Ultimately, 101st Sustainment Brigade leaders were taken behind the scenes of a mission conducted mostly in private due to its solemn nature.
“It further helps them know the soldier is treated as a soldier form beginning to end,” said Swinson, “and what we do brings comfort to family and friends.”
The process of sending a fallen hero and their personal effects home is one part science, one part symbolism and a little paperwork.
“It’s a lot more paperwork and legal issues than I thought,” said 1st Lt. Heidi Miller, the personnel (S1) officer for 101st STB. “It made me really sad.”
By guaranteeing that fallen heroes leave Afghanistan with all the personal effects and paperwork, with their feet first, the team assures respect to the soldier on their final journey home.
“They are treated as soldiers all the way to the end,” said Pfc. Daniel Guzman, a mortuary affairs specialist.
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2011 07:58 |
| Story ID: | 68086 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 376 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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