Operation Clean Sweep: Logistics Marines account for millions of dollars worth of gear and equipment

News: Operation Clean Sweep: Logistics Marines account for millions of dollars worth of gear and equipment

2nd Marine Logistics Group

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Story by 2nd Lt. James Stenger Follow This Journalist

2nd Lt. James Stenger

A Marine with the sort lot aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, guides a forklift operator Nov. 29, as he inventories several tires designated as excess during Operation Clean Sweep. The purpose of the operation is to effectively and efficiently plan for how to retrograde all Marine equipment and personnel from Afghanistan.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - For the last five months, Marine and Sailors of 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have accounted for, sorted, cleaned and processed several millions of dollars worth of gear and equipment in support of Operation Clean Sweep aboard Camp Leatherneck and Camp Dwyer.

This operation is part of Regional Command Southwest’s plan for redeployment and retrograde in support of reset and reconstitution (R4), which is a four-part term commonly used to refer to the concept of how the Marine Corps will most efficiently and effectively leave Afghanistan.

Planning for the departure of forces was a primary focus of operations for 2nd MLG (FWD), and remains a priority for the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD) as the two units transfer authority in mid-February, 2012.

According to Capt. Paul Mainor, 1st MLG (FWD)’s assistant officer in charge of R4, commanders and unit planners take care to properly plan for the retrograde of a wide spectrum of essentials items, from large-scale engineering equipment to computers and rifles.

Not only is the plan facilitating the process of leaving Afghanistan, but it is saving the Marine Corps money by identifying excess gear and reallocating it to the units deployed, vice ordering new equipment to be shipped here.

According to statistics compiled by Maj. Ken Karcher, the future operations officer for 2nd MLG (FWD) and officer in charge of redeployment and retrograde (R2) operations, Marines and Sailors attached to the sort lots and supply management units have recovered roughly $44 million worth of excess supplies.

Out of this amount, approximately $17 million has already been redistributed to units currently deployed or shipped to one of the three active Marine Expeditionary Forces based in North Carolina, California or Okinawa, Japan.

The 1st MLG (FWD) plans on picking up where 2nd MLG (FWD) left off, as commanders realize the importance of withdrawing from Afghanistan efficiently and effectively.