Postal company helping find solutions at Tallil

Photo By Sgt. Marshall Thompson | Pfc. David Littlefield, a postal clerk with the 1-55th Postal Company, works in the mail room in Tallil, Iraq on April 18.  

TALLIL, IRAQ

05.12.2006

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

By Sgt. Marshall Thompson
Staff Writer

CAMP ADDER, Iraq - The 1-55th Postal Company in Tallil, Iraq, ships and delivers mail like clockwork every day, but they haven't let the reliable schedule make them complacent when it comes to customer service.

The unit has started a Web site and a lower enlisted training program all designed at getting better information to the post office customers in an efficient manner.

"The best part of the job is when you help a customer find a solution," said Sgt. 1st Class Carlene Frazier, a platoon sergeant for the 1-55th. "I love helping Soldiers."

Frazier said the company thought a Web site might help their customers find answers from the comfort of their own office.

"This is my first unit that's made a postal Web site. If they have questions, they ask them online and if they have comments, they can post comments," said Sgt. Geanno Thompson, custodian of postal effects for the 1-55th. "It puts the information out there and helps service the customers better."

Frazier checks the questions and comments once a week, finds the answers and sends a response. Thompson said the response so far has been positive.

"We get compliments from the customers about the kind of service we provide them," Thompson said.

The Web site has a link directly from the Tallil Base Web site. The postal site features frequently asked questions as well as photos of Soldiers hard at work processing the mail.

Another program, which just started on April 18, was a mentoring program in which a junior enlisted Soldier switched places with an NCO for one day to learn their job and become more proficient at answering customer questions.

Williams said that the switch was going well for her that day. She said answering the customer's questions is easy when you know where to look.

"It's not hard just as long as you have the right resources to find the answers and information for the Soldiers and customers that have questions," Williams said.

"We are the NCOs for the day," said Spc. Michelle Williams, a postal clerk with the 1-55th who was switching places with Thompson. "We do what the NCOs would do during the day."

Frazier said she hopes the lower enlisted Soldiers take advantage of the opportunity to step up and perform at a level above their pay grade.

"I hope that they get insight and experience," Frazier said. "It will also help them to understand what we, as leaders, expect of them."

These two programs are just part of general idea among the 1-55th to put the customer first.

Thompson, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom I said he's seen a large increase in mail volume and understands how important it is for Soldiers.

"A lot of Soldiers are more comfortable and settled and they want to feel more comfortable so they order a lot of things and they have their families send a lot of things to make them feel comfortable," he said.

Thompson said that even though e-mail and phones are used more in this deployment, the postal service is the one Soldiers can count on.

"If the phones go out, or if the Internet goes out, you'll always have mail. They always depend on the mail system," Thompson said.

Williams said that mail has an extra significance beyond being reliable.

"It brings up the Soldiers" morale knowing that their loved ones took the time to write them a letter and that they support them and what they're doing for their country," Williams said.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2006
• Date Posted: 05.12.2006 15:08
• Story ID: 6364
• Location: TALLIL, IQ