Army reserve command moves all U.S. troops, supplies into Afghanistan

Photo By Elisebet Freeburg | Sgt. Terrance Lee, a 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command supply specialist, moves crates, May 29, to help Soldiers construct a new work facility. As the first ESC to arrive in Afghanistan, many of the command's Soldiers had to build their own work areas.  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

06.18.2009

Story by Spc. Elisebet Freeburg 

143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — In February, President Barrack Obama authorized almost 20,000 additional troops to deploy to Afghanistan as part of the Global War on Terrorism. As thousands of American troops arrive in Afghanistan weekly, the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command is an integral force in Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 143rd ESC, an Army Reserve command and the first ESC to deploy to Afghanistan, controls the arrival and movement of troops and supplies by leading the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan in sustainment operations.

"If we were a Fortune 500 company, the 143rd would be the CEOs," said 1st Lt. LaMeka Grayson, a human resources operations officer.

Since sustainment previously was operated on a battalion level, the 143rd ESC pioneered sustainment operations on a command level.

The approximately 300 Soldiers of the 143rd ESC are divided into many sections. The heart of the command is the section called support operations.

"Support operations (SPO) is the major information hub for the unit," said Master Sgt. Michelle J. Jackson-Hanner, the distribution integration branch non-commissioned officer in charge. "There are eight cells in SPO, and each one has a different function."

The eight SPO cells are the distribution integration branch, human resource operations, mobility, contracting, plans, supply and services, ammunitions and the material readiness branch.

The distribution integration branch is the internal information center through which all the SPO cells funnel their information. The DIB collects the information and then passes it on to the party for which it is intended.

Human resource operations handles personnel travel, such as emergency leave, and rest and recuperation leave. HR Ops is also responsible for all the mail coming into Afghanistan for U.S. troops, according to Grayson. For Kandahar Airfield alone, the cell tracks mail for nearly 10,000 people.

The mobility cell tracks basic commodities that a unit would need while on the ground, said Jackson-Hanner. They cover everything from tent poles and building materials to tactical vehicles.

With the number of units in Afghanistan increasing weekly, mobility provides those units with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. The need is evident at Forward Operating Base Ramrod where thousands of Marines have arrived and need a vast number of MRAPs to become functional.

"[The contracting cell is] responsible for making sure the contractors we use are up to par on licenses, up to date on equipment and delivering what they are supposed to," said Jackson-Hanner.

The contracting cell tracks local contractors hired by the U.S. military to move convoys of supplies.

Plans is the preparation cell. All plans are submitted through this cell, checked for accurate information and then sent to the 143rd ESC commanding general, Brig. Gen. Daniel I. Schultz, for final approval. As well, they review and make changes to current policies and procedures.

"[Supply and services] establishes all fuel locations and basically fuel distribution throughout [Afghanistan]," said Lt. Col. Richard R. Biehl, the supply and services branch chief.

Besides fuel, the cell brings in and provides rations for troops, such as bottled water and food. In addition, they conduct mortuary affairs, which involves identification of deceased personnel and safeguarding personal effects, and they facilitate the Army Direct Ordering program, which allows Soldiers to replace worn-out uniforms. Challenges they have faced include enemy attacks on convoys and the overall demand of expanding FOBs needing more supplies.

"Ammunitions is a vital part of supporting the troops coming in," said Sgt. Raymond S. Lopez Jr., a 143rd ESC ammunitions specialist. "Without bullets you can't kill the bad guy."

The ammunitions cell controls the flow of ammunition throughout the theater and analyzes what each unit needs, said Lopez. One difficulty the cell faced was filling the growing ammo needs of new troops arriving. The problem was solved by dedicating a regular flight into country solely to bring in ammo.

The material readiness branch is responsible for receiving materials to distribute, such as electrical equipment, drilling equipment for wells and large containers of water to be used for bathing.

One challenge the SPO faces as a whole is the constant adaptation to a changing theater
as the troop influx grows. Besides SPO, another section essential to the 143rd ESC's operations is the logistics section. It currently oversees building projects in the southern region of Afghanistan. They approve large purchases, oversee vehicle usage and manage service requests. Besides this, the logistics section supervises the base dining facilities to ensure that food service abides by regulations.

The 143rd ESC supports the U.S. mission in Afghanistan by helping the local populace. It is currently building a humanitarian yard outside Kandahar Airfield that will cover the entire southern and western Afghanistan regions.

"The yard will hold 150 containers of aid like rice, beans, clothing, sugar and salt," said Master Sgt. Johnny Wise Jr., the Civil Affairs humanitarian assistance NCOIC.

The 143rd ESC will employ 20 local Afghans to work as distributors at the yard. The workers will be chosen after a rigorous six week process, including interviews and follow-ups. Eventually Civil Affairs will control the humanitarian yard at Bagram Airfield too, thereby rendering humanitarian aid to the entire country.

The SPO, logistics and Civil Affairs are by no means the only sections of the command who contribute to the build-up of troops in Afghanistan. Many sections assist in sustainment operations or support those sections that do.

"We have a lot of eyes on us to ensure that we were right for the job," said Jackson-Hanner. "I think we've proven that we're able to maintain our logistical sustainment."

The 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, a National Guard command out of
Homewood, Ala., will replace the 143rd ESC at the end of 2009.

"We're setting the next unit up for success," said Lopez. "We came here with nothing built up and built this ourselves. The next unit will just jump into our seats, and we'll roll out of here."

For troops in the Afghanistan theater, the support operations of a sustainment command will remain a crucial asset to maintain U.S. and coalition forces in the Global War on Terror.

• Date Taken: 06.18.2009
• Date Posted: 06.22.2009 09:43
• Story ID: 35468
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF