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    Team speeds up retrograding equipment

    Retrograde Property Assistance Team

    Photo By Sgt. Marshall Thompson | Sgt. Erick Majano, a Retrograde Property Assistance Team member from the 1107th...... read more read more

    05.12.2006

    Courtesy Story

    207th Public Affairs Detachment

    By Sgt. Marshall Thompson
    Staff Writer

    One of the first steps of a draw down of equipment in Iraq is taking place as a special team travels from base to base sending excess vehicles and equipment to the rear.

    In April, the Retrograde Property Assistance Team, or RPAT, lined up almost 800 vehicles and parts to prepare them to be moved by trucks back to Kuwait and eventually to the United States.

    The RPAT travels to a base, prepares the vehicles and equipment to ship back and then moves on to the next base.

    "We were in the BIAP/Victory area and went to Paliwoda, Taji and then here," said Staff Sgt. Perry Foster, NCOIC for the RPAT. "We try to relieve the company of excess equipment."

    Units are more than happy to get outdated or inoperable equipment off their property books.

    "The units are thrilled to get this property off their commander's property book," said. Maj. Audrie Morgan, commander of the 321st Theater Military Material Command out of Kuwait. "We have happy customers when they walk away."

    Units are also happy that the RPAT teams travel to them instead of the other way around.

    "It's a good thing that we're doing," said Sgt. Erick Majano, an RPAT team member. "Instead of them having to come to us, we can go to them. They tell us that we don't know how happy they are to see us."

    Majano said he feels good to be saving Soldiers time on the dangerous roads of Iraq.

    Making it to the Middle East was the first challenge that members of the RPAT teams faced. Originally, the 1108th Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot, or ACRAD, out of Mississippi would have assumed the command of the RPAT teams in Iraq. However, because of the damage done by hurricane Katrina, the unit was not in a position to deploy in its entirety.

    "Guys had to stay back to rebuild what was left of their homes," Majano said.

    If the command of the 1108th deployed, the entire unit would have to deploy as well, Majano said.

    So, the 1107th ACRAD out of Missouri volunteered to take command and fill the unit on a volunteer basis. Now almost half the unit is from the 1108th and half from the 1107th.

    "Sometimes we call it 1107.5," Majano said.

    In the end, all the Soldiers were happy to help units keep their property books efficient and be one of the first steps in a draw down of equipment in Iraq.

    "We've made a lot of friends over here," Majano said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.12.2006
    Date Posted: 05.12.2006 15:16
    Story ID: 6365
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    Web Views: 94
    Downloads: 32

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