New joint mail terminal opens

Photo By Sgt. Marshall Thompson | Sgt. Robert Kitson, a postal sergeant with the 2/755th Adjutant General Company (Postal) helps deliver the mail during mail call at the new facility at Logistical Support Area Anaconda.  

04.14.2006

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

The joint military postal operations at Logistical Support Area Anaconda recently moved to a consolidated location to improve customer service.

Construction on the new facility finished in the first week of March and the Joint Military Mail Terminal moved in the same week. The groups in the new building consist of Kellogg, Brown and Root workers, a military regional post office that delivers mail to LSA Anaconda, and will eventually include the Air Force postal operations as well.

"Just the fact that we're under the same roof improves delivery," said Maj. Scott Mewborne, JMMT OIC from the 1st Personnel Command.

Before, KBR would pick up the mail from the airport, transport it to a hangar and sort it by zip code. Mail that comes into LSA Anaconda goes to different bases all over northern Iraq. The KBR employees would take the mail that stays on LSA Anaconda and transport it to a regional post office. From there, Army and Air Force mail handlers would sort the mail by unit and have mail call so the units could pick up their mail.

Under the new system, KBR picks up the mail from the airfield and delivers it to one building where Soldiers and airmen can do all the sorting.

"They were handling the mail three to four times," Mewborne said. "It's more efficient now, it's only handled twice."

Soldiers in the regional post office said that the move was helpful for them as well.

"It's a nice building," said Sgt. Robert Kitson, a postal sergeant with 2-755th Adjutant General Company (Postal). "It's a lot better then the tent we were in."

Switching to the building just before summertime is an added bonus for the postal workers.

"I'm glad we're in here with the air conditioning," said Spc. James Evans, a redirection specialist from 2-755th. He added that he might drive a mail truck when he returns home. He said he's received good training in the Army and he knows it's something he"d like to do.

Kitson said the move went smoothly. The unit transferred all the equipment after mail call hours and the next day mail call was in the new location. The building is also easier for the units who go to mail call there. A cement parking lot is an improvement over the gravel parking lot at the old site. Plus, the spacious warehouse makes it easier for the regional postal unit to organize the daily mail call.

"One of the advantages of being here is the size of the facility allows us to streamline our process and procedures and have better customer service," said Capt. Debbie Ubamadu, the postal operations OIC for LSA Anaconda from the 2-755th.

The Soldiers of the regional post office said they felt they are doing an important job and hope that the new facility will help them to better serve their fellow service members at LSA Anaconda.

"It makes us look more professional, instead of working out of a tent," Evans said. "Getting the mail is very important and the mail never stops."

• Date Taken: 04.14.2006
• Date Posted: 04.14.2006 13:00
• Story ID: 6036