By U.S. Army 1st Lt. James M. Beebe
JTF Sapper Deputy J4
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - The JTF Sapper J4 sustainment cell continues to integrate into Afghan National Army development operations. Earlier this month, the J4 participated in a key leader engagement in northern Afghanistan at Camp Spann and Camp Shaheen to help identify and troubleshoot solutions for logistics issues currently plaguing the 209th Corps Engineer Kandak and the ANA Engineer School House.
Although this was the first time Theater Engineer Brigade logistics representatives have been so well integrated into ANA development, the addition of logistics representatives in KLEs and subsequent working and targeting groups at the strategic level have proved beneficial. The TEB continuously works on the issue of how the TEB supports ANA development with federal resources, but more importantly how the TEB can help the ANA better utilize and fix issues within their own logistics framework.
The logistical expertise brought to the ANA Development fight is an important component to ensure current and future engineer training and operations across CJOA-A are successful. Upcoming lines of effort for the J4 include developing a common operating picture of logistics issues facing the National Engineer Brigade, scheduled to begin training in the coming months, and a trip to visit the 205th CEK in southern Afghanistan to further identify sustainment issues.
Sustainers provide the expertise required to readily identify issues that can be detrimental to any supply chain. This expertise and willingness to support the training mission of ANA engineers, has helped increase and sustain communication of logistics issues within the TEB community.
“The largest hurdle to logistics seems to be inter-Afghan communication,” 1st Lt. Carolyn Richley, JTF Sapper ANA development officer commented. “ANA development will continue to require J4 assistance in order to maintain the communication with the coalition logistics players.”
Maj. Pete Spratt, JTF Sapper J4 remarked, “Our logistical integration effort to ANA engineer development is the center of gravity to achieving both our lead line of effort, and enabling the capability of an ANA/NEB that is organically sustainable.”
Note about the author: 1st Lt. (Promotable) James Beebe is currently serving as the deputy of logistics for the Theater Engineer Brigade, Joint Task Force Sapper, forward deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIV. A graduate of Churchland High School, Beebe has a bachelor's of science from the U.S. Military Academy and is studying for his master's degree from Liberty University. Beebe is the son of Aaron and Rebecca Beebe, Portsmouth, Va., and nephew of Andrew and Candice Beebe, Lonerock, Ore.