Soldiers make a difference on the war on excess in Iraq

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Jesaren Winston, a supply sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 240th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Detroit native, checks serial numbers on turn-in documents at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Alan J. Sanfratella)  

AL ASAD AIR BASE, IRAQ

10.09.2010

Courtesy Story

224th Sustainment Brigade

By 1st Lt. Alan J. Sanfratella

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq— Soldiers with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 240th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), are doing their part in the war on excess at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

As the operations in Iraq have shrunk, consolidated and changed, the need for equipment has diminished as well. For the past seven years, U.S. forces have brought in thousands of pieces of equipment. This equipment ranges from computers to non-tactical vehicles to crew-served weapons.

"Seven months ago, when I signed for our theater-provided equipment hand receipt, I knew there were a lot of items we did not need," said Capt. Grant Brayley, company commander of HHC, 240th CSSB, and a Toronto, Ohio, native. "When I previously deployed to Iraq, there was no concern for excess equipment. Now there is a new mindset in Iraq."

The mindset Brayley referred to is the responsible drawdown of forces and equipment from Iraq. In order to meet the Dec. 31, 2011, deadline of full withdrawal from Iraq, all equipment needs to be inventoried, inspected, and transported out of theater.

“Units in the 224th Sust. Bde. have been instructed to turn in any item that is not needed for our mission,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Sanabria, the supply non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the 240th CSSB, and a Chicago native.

New systems have been put in place to help streamline the turn-in of excess equipment. One of those systems is Theater Redistributable Asset Management. In order for TRAM to be effective, all levels must be involved.

"It is up to the hand receipt holders to tell me what they do not need for their mission,” said Sgt. Jesaren Winston, a supply sergeant with the HHC, 240th CSSB, and a Detroit native. “Anything they do not need is labeled as excess and given to higher [command] for disposition instructions."

The equipment is first examined to be sent to different units in Iraq who are in need. If there is no need, the equipment is shipped out of Iraq and redistributed to other areas of operation.

“Going through hundreds of serial numbers can be tedious at times, but HHC, 240th CSSB has definitely made a dent in getting all the excess property turned in these past five months,” said Winston. "I look forward to the day when our whole property book is clear."

• Date Taken: 10.09.2010
• Date Posted: 10.25.2010 09:59
• Story ID: 58749
• Location: AL ASAD AIR BASE, IQ