Airmen mentor ANA logistics support agency soldiers

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

02.26.2008

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

Air Force Staff Sgt. Ian Carrier
American Forces Network, Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Airmen from the 755th Expeditionary Support Squadron are mentoring Afghan national army soldiers at the Logistics Support Operations Center in Kabul.

The Airmen work closely with their Afghan counterparts, helping them set up a logistics web throughout the country. The goal is to make the ANA a self-sufficient fighting force in the Global War on Terror.

The LSOC is the primary logistics hub for the ANA and Afghan national police in Afghanistan. The 90-man unit handles many kinds of materials, excluding medical supplies, which they expect to receive by the end of 2008, according to Air Force Col. John McGuire, 755th ESPTS and LSOC senior mentor.

Requests come in from the field, to the customer service desk and are sent to the appropriate LSOC offices. For example, a request for ammunition goes to Afghan Col. Tahir in the ammo section, whereas a request for clothing would go to Afghan Maj. Dagmarman Saber, Field Services director. The requests are then verified, the equipment sent to a depot and it is issued.

"This is an interesting job," said McGuire. "Small steps here make a big difference. It was a big step to get them to handle their own supplies. They knew the theory behind logistics and we are mentoring them to help them improve. One of the challenges was to get agencies to talk to each other and getting the ANA to work together."

"We have several depots in Kabul," said ANA Col. Nabi Ahmadzi, LSOC commander. "We supply all the ANA and ANP from these depots."

Supplies must be transported to the depots, which is where the distributing office comes in. Afghan Lt. Col. Quadoose, distribution commander, orders the vehicles needed to carry the supplies.

"My daily duties are to take requests and make plans for trucks to deliver supplies to our customers," said Quadoose. "Our supplies must be on time and the priority is forward support depots. Since the LSOC was established, things have greatly improved. We used to move all of our supplies by civilian trucks, now we use mostly ANA trucks.

"I am 100 percent happy to work with our U.S. mentors," said Quadoose. "If they were not here, we would not be able to function at this level."

"We mentor and help with problems that may come up," said Air Force Capt. Atley Gray, Distribution Office senior mentor. "We try as mentors to have our counterparts come up with solutions. This is their country, we try not to interfere. They come to us for guidance and we give direction, we don't tell them what to do.

"It's been great working with (Ahmadzi) and his staff," said Gray. "They are willing to learn. They thank me, and I thank them back because it's easier to teach people who want to learn."

One of the ways the mentors are trying to streamline the logistical process is by getting the ANA up to speed on computers. The Airmen teach the ANA how to use spreadsheets instead of dry-erase boards, streamlining the data process.

Senior Master Sgt. Wendel Wilson and Tech. Sgt. Natalie Cerchio, 755th ESPTS and Central Supply Depot mentors, teach Afghan soldiers basic computer skills such as Microsoft Word and Excel. The training began in April 2007 and 120 students have been trained.

"It is fun and challenging," said Cerchio. "You have to break things down and start at the basic level. They are the future of this country, and someday they will be teaching others the skills we have taught them."

"I like the computer a lot because it helps in our office very much," said ANA Col. Dadagul, Central Supply Depot Material Office student. "This is the first time I have used computers, and with as much as I've learned I will be able to train other people."

An important link in the chain is the Central Movement Agency. This is where all the vehicles that transport supplies are kept. There are five truck companies; two light, one medium, one heavy and a headquarters company.

The mentors at the CMA help the Afghans with convoy scheduling, techniques, property-book management and fuel management.

According to Air Force Master Sgt. James Fink, 755th ESPTS and CMA mentor, approximately 100 convoys roll a week and run coordination with the LSOC.

The mentoring Airmen of the 755th ESPTS are helping change the way the ANA conduct their logistics, and in turn are helping Afghanistan fight the Global War on Terror.

• Date Taken: 02.26.2008
• Date Posted: 02.26.2008 09:04
• Story ID: 16716
• Location: KABUL, AF