Diverse Task Force Anchor unit provides project materials

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Myers | U.S. Army personnel from the 132nd Engineer Company support loading operations for the Task Force Anchor material liaison office aboard Camp Krutke. Task Force Anchor, comprised of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 personnel, is deployed to Afghanistan to provide engineering support for theater coalition forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Utilitiesman 3rd Class Drew Verbis)  

AFGHANISTAN

10.16.2012

Courtesy Story

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133

By Utilitiesman Third Class Drew Verbis
Task Force Anchor Public Affairs

CAMP KRUTKE, Afghanistan - Task Force Anchor, comprised of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 personnel, meets the demand for Seabee capabilities to support ongoing military operations in Afghanistan by establishing solid supply lines. The center of the effort resides in the material liaison office aboard Camp Krutke, where pushing supply lines of mission essential materials is assigned to a small unit of experts from a diverse spectrum of training.

Builder 2nd Class Travis Johnson, the MLO yard boss, said each of the nine Seabees has multiple responsibilities each day to complete their tasking requirements.

“It would all but be impossible to complete missions as fast or with such ease as we do, if we didn't come from such culturally diverse backgrounds, and such a mixture of ratings,” said Chief Utilitiesman Laroy Brisco, the MLO leading chief petty officer.
“Here at MLO, we work with a unique dynamic of military, civilians and foreign national personnel, which only add to our figurative tool box.”

MLO uses a variety of methods to acquire a staggering quantity of tools and materials required to support the needs of coalition forces and at the same time maintain a working stock able to support emergent missions. This includes using local vendors, adjacent supporting units like the Marine Corps builder maintenance yard, and overseas shipments. There are language barriers, deadlines, budgets, contracts and physical acquisition of materials which are normally picked up by the equipment operators on staff. At any one time, the department might be responsible for supplying multiple projects with thousands of pieces of materials worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“In a region like Afghanistan, there’s always a challenge to provide materials to our projects on camp and located at forward operating bases,” said Johnson. “It’s not an easy task.”

MLO has already processed nearly $1.2 million in construction materials for five different construction projects and outfitted those same projects with the necessary tools to complete the mission, inventoried most of a 5.8 acre yard housing more than $8 million in materials, and many additional chores since the battalion's arrival in Afghanistan.

“You see us working around the yard through the day, non-stop until after sunset," said Lt. j.g. Mike Manzano, the MLO division officer. "The next morning we come in early with smiles on our faces. Every day is a new day and this crew truly embodies the spirit and the legacy of the Seabees like no other.”

• Date Taken: 10.16.2012
• Date Posted: 10.21.2012 23:54
• Story ID: 96527
• Location: AF