Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers- Europe vice chief of staff visits the Bagram Retrosort Yard

Photo By Capt. Henry Chan | Soldiers of the CENTCOM Materiel Retrograde Element show Lt. Gen. Philippe Stoltz the operation of the “Virtual Warehouse” at the Bagram Retrosort Yard. The Virtual Warehouse is a successful program devised by the soldiers of the BAF RSY to re-distribute high demand items back to units with a higher level of customer service. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Henry Chan, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Public Affairs)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.07.2012

Story by 1st Lt. Henry Chan 

18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan– French Army Lt. Gen. Philippe Stoltz, the vice chief of staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, visited the Bagram Air Field Retrosort Yard on Nov. 7, 2012.

It was the first time the soldiers of the Bagram Air Field Retrosort Yard to receive a French general. After the small group of officers and noncommissioned officers saluted, they proceeded into a covered area and commenced a brief.

The BAF RSY operates with two other retrograde sort yards in Afghanistan under the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, commanded by Army Lt. Col. Michelle Letcher.

Soldiers from the 18th CSSB from Grafenwoehr, Germany and the 427th Brigade Support Battalion of the New York National Guard make-up the military personnel at the facility.

The Retrograde Sort Yard is a vital facility in the reduction of the amount of excess materiel in Afghanistan. According to US figures from the International Security Assistance Force, despite the $6 billion cost for redeployment of US troops, the roughly $48 billion worth of military equipment makes it well worth the mission.

This military equipment, from trucks, radios to weapons parts are then recirculated back into the Army Supply System. Some of it will be immediately re-issued, others may be refurbished and upgraded.

Unlike U.S. forces, not all other NATO countries have extensive plans for the re-organization and re-distribution of materiel in the battlefield. This means that items are potentially forgotten instead of accounted for and re-used in the military supply system.

After Army Maj. Rosendo Pagan, executive officer of the 18th CSSB, gave the group a detailed brief of retrosort operation in Afghanistan, Army Sgt. 1st Class Edward Dowd, the facility “noncomissioned officer in charge”, led the group to view recently opened incoming shipping containers full of armored vehicle tires and fuel storage bladders.

The group then proceeded to the “Virtual Warehouse”. The Virtual Warehouse is a successful program devised by the soldiers of the BAF RSY to re-distribute high-demand items back to units with a higher level of customer service.

Soldiers collect items such as pens, binders, printer toner cartridges or even bulk insect repellent from the processing area and gather them for issue to local units with no charge to the unit. Stoltz joked that the 18th CSSB had established a supermarket for the base.

Dowd led Stoltz to visit the hazardous material sorting and holding areas for items to be disposed, where disposed engine oil, batteries and other chemicals are safely separated and stored.

Stoltz complimented on the efforts to minimize the environmental impact. He emphasized the importance of responsible environmental practices for the international community and the people of Afghanistan.

Army Master Sgt. Archie Belton, the facility operations supervisor, led the group through the processing area and explained how the Materiel Release Orders were generated to account for items.

MROs are a key part of shipping re-circulated items. They indicate the critical information needed to identify the item.

As the tour drew to an end, the cross-nation experience proved to be valuable for all allied soldiers.

“I think the visit was a success in providing a clear picture to Lt. Gen. Stoltz and NATO on how the CENTCOM Materiel Recovery Element developed a proactive approach in gradually reducing the excess materiel from the battlefield and how our leadership is ensuring the stewardship of tax payers money,” said Pagan.

“I am very impressed by the organization in place,” Stoltz said, “I hope all [units] in ISAF have the same organization. I am sure that there are lessons learned in Iraq, Kuwait and now, [Afghanistan].”

• Date Taken: 11.07.2012
• Date Posted: 11.24.2012 06:28
• Story ID: 98296
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
• Hometown: WACO, TX, US