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In the pursuit of sustaining warfighters in Afghanistan, a New Equipping Strategy has been implemented by Third Army to refine the process of transitioning units and improve their readiness, while reducing their workload and saving the Army money.

"We have developed a new equipping strategy that allows us to get a unit into the operational battlespace quicker and more efficiently," said Army Lt. Col. Dennis C. McCallum Jr., the Deputy Force Management Director for Third Army and a native of Rich Square, N.C. "By reducing the number of pieces of equipment transported, Third Army allows a more expedient deployment of units in and out of Afghanistan."

Two units currently going through the transition process have benefited from Third Army's guidance, allowing the outgoing unit, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Infantry Division Mountain to leave some of their equipment behind for their replacements and minimizing the logistical support necessary to continue the mission. Because of this new initiative the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team was able to leave 33 percent of their total equipment at home station, falling in on everything from computers, to vehicles and weapons.

"In the past, each unit began their deployment with a clean slate, bringing in their own equipment that sometimes would have a tough time getting to them," said Army Lt. Col. Bill P. Dillon, Force Management Action Officer for Third Army, and a native of Cape
May, N.J.

Such efforts by Third Army to minimize the traffic of logistical support into the Operation Enduring Freedom area of operations are aided by outgoing units leaving behind functional equipment to their replacements. In coordination with Department of the
Army guidance, Third Army continues to refine the process and expand their efforts to both Operation Iraqi Freedom and OEF unit transitions.

"Our goal with this new strategy is to streamline the entire process and to constantly reduce the gear necessary to move in and out of the country," said Dillon.

Third Army has been moving equipment and forces throughout the Central Command area of operations continuously for the last eight years to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. If the plans for an eventual surge of troops into Afghanistan to further aid in the War on Terror becomes a reality, such strategies as the Third Army's
New Equipping Strategy will become all the more important.

"If [The United States] decides to increase the number of Soldiers and equipment in the Afghanistan theater, then we will really need this new strategy," said Dillon. "The strategy's impact on the mission will become more substantial if a surge happens. The
173rd's deployment was just a great opportunity for us to really make this plan happen."

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