Afghan National Army holds first logistics conference

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

01.29.2012

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 1 - Afghanistan

By U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Thompson
RC-East PAO

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The supply and logistics officers with the Afghan National Army 201st Corps hosted a three-day conference dealing with logistical and property book issues at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Jan. 29-31.

This was the first 201st Corps-led supply conference and was in large contrast to the mentor-led conference held more than a year ago. Past reliance on mentors and coalition forces for resolution of supply issues has been replaced by ANA soldiers leading most of the classes and discussion on resolving logistics challenges.

“Now they understand that this is their supply system, their army,” said Larry Dingle, a civilian logistics mentor with the Tactical Action Center at FOB Gamberi. “They have to make sure that their people understand how to order and receive goods as well as property accountability.”

The opening remarks for the conference by Brig. Gen. Seiyed Aqa, the 201st Corps officer in charge of operations, stressed accountability throughout the Afghan National Army.

“It is our responsibility to ensure we know where our equipment is at all times,” Aqa said.

Those remarks served as a common theme during the conference as the ANA upgrade their accountability process.

The 201st Corps property book officer, ANA Col. Ibrahim Babakarkhel, instructed his fellow officers on the updates to the new system that will track orders and receipt of equipment.

“It is important for us to be accountable for our equipment and not lose track of anything,” Babakarkhel said.

The conference accomplished all that the 201st Corps PBO had set out to do.

The corps PBO will now send out an order informing the brigade logistics officers and PBOs of bi-monthly meetings each month.

These future meetings will allow the corps and brigade staffs to hand out any updates for the PBO’s and answer any questions they may have.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2012
• Date Posted: 02.07.2012 11:47
• Story ID: 83473
• Location: LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AF