Raider BCT logistics leaders rally with ISF, Iraqi officers assess supply systems

Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Lt. Col. Darren Werner, commander, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th...... read more read more

Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Lt. Col. Darren Werner, commander, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division -- Baghdad, meets with Iraqi national police Col. Hassim, operations officer, 7th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division before the Iraqi security forces Logistics Conference, July 20, at Forward Operating Base Falcon in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad. Logistics leaders, as well as members of Military and national police transition teams, attended the conference that was hosted by Werner, a native of Mayville, Mich. The intent of the conference is to provide ISF leaders and their coalition counterparts the opportunity to hold a forum to better their supply systems.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.23.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams 

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

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By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Maintenance and supply requisitioning, distribution, supply economy and accountability are just a few of the mission-essential dynamics that keep forces in any army combat ready.

Iraqi security forces met with logistics leaders of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, at a premier ISF Logistics Conference, July 20. The event was hosted by the Raider Brigade's 4th Support Battalion as part of a professional development program at Forward Operating Base Falcon, located in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad.

"The role of the 4th Supt. Bn. is to partner with the Iraqi security forces and provide them assessments of their capabilities, develop their capabilities, and facilitate improvement in their logistics systems," said Lt. Col. Darren Werner, commander, 4th Supt. Bn.

"The purpose of the meeting is to bring together the key ISF logistics leaders to discuss a specific logistics system, in this case the fuel system," Werner explained.

The Packhorse Battalion provides specialized technical training; oversees professional development programs, such as the ISF Logistics Conference and conducts formal logistics system reviews, said Werner, a Mayville, Mich., native.

The event, which dealt primarily with ISF fuel operations, was presided over by Col. Hassim, the operations officer for 7th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division.

"Col. Hassim was able to provide an excellent summary of the challenges that 7th Bde., 2nd NP Div., has with their fuel allocation, fuel distribution and storage, and their methods that they use to eliminate corruption," Werner said.

The pretense for the conference opened up the floor for professional discussion in search of solutions to common problems.

The ISF logisticians brainstormed issues that ranged from fuel requirements, reporting and distribution procedures, storage and evaporation of fuel, and corruption.

"I am going to tell you the truth and be honest here, and that there is not one officer here who is going to sign for an amount that he is not going to get," said an Iraqi NP officer from the 2nd NP Div. to the ISF officers and their coalition counterparts at the meeting.

For nearly four hours, Iraqi logisticians summarized several tests they currently face and proposed solutions, challenging each other to take a candid look at their operations.

"This was the first meeting we held with the Iraqis at FOB Falcon to discuss logistics," said Capt. Christiana Cioffi, support operations plans officer for the 4th Supt. Bn. "We first brought the training teams together to discuss the 'way ahead' and how to best address issues and concerns."

The leaders of 4th Supt. Bn. and 1st BCT hope to conduct future meetings focused on medical, maintenance and transportations operations, said Cioffi, a West Point graduate from Scarsdale, N.Y.

"From what we have seen, most of the NP units have some of the same issues and concerns," Cioffi said. "This forum is a great way to bring them together to identify how to best correct the problems and continue to make progress in sustainment operations."

"The conference is successful in that each battalion and brigade element gets to see each other, face to face, and make their issues and concerns known," said Capt. Wesley Smith, Military Transition Team officer-in-charge, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

The Military and national police training teams bring observations and recommend solutions for the collective group, said Smith, who hails from Richmond, Va.

Problems with supplies directly affect the ability of any unit to accomplish its mission, he added.

"Bottom line: the more capable the ISF unit, the less reliant they become on coalition forces assistance and further move towards taking over primary responsibility for security in Iraq," Smith said.

The NPTT and MITT, who are responsible for coaching, teaching and mentoring the ISF, also provide guidance and encourage the Iraqi logistician officers to openly deal with the real problems they face, said Smith.

"The ISF logistics systems have made measurable improvements, but they are challenged by the still developing national or strategic level of logistics," said Werner. "As [Iraq's] government ministries establish business agreements and contracts for repair parts, fuel products and other supplies and services, the Iraqi security forces will become even more effective."