BAGHDAD, Iraq - The 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade's, Forward Logistics Element is located on forward operating base Prosperity, in the International Zone of central Baghdad.
The FLE operates a Supply Point, Ammunition Storage, Fuel Point, and Maintenance Areas. A large part of the FLE operation is assisting in the transportation of equipment and supplies to and from the International Zone. In order to accomplish this mission, the FLE relies on various forms of material handling equipment for loading and unloading equipment from transport trucks.
A large part of this mission is movement of 20- and 40-foot shipping containers that contain every type of supply needed to sustain the units in the area.
One of the most important pieces of MHE is the Rough Terrain Container Handler, manufactured by KALMAR RT Center, LLC. The KALMAR RTCH is capable of picking up 20- and 40-foot shipping containers weighing up to 53,000 pounds and precisely placing the container in the correct location for storage or shipping.
The FLE has two container handlers for use in movement operations. The operation and maintenance on this equipment is very technical, therefore the FLE support operations maintenance non-commissioned officer in-charge contacted KALMAR representatives to request support.
Staff Sgt. Lee Mickleberry, a native of Richmond, Va., made contact with two KALMAR representatives at Victory Base Complex a short distance away. KALMAR Global Support Team Site Manager Tracey King and Brian Gladstone, both from San Antonio, traveled from VBC to Forward Operating Base Prosperity to provide assistance.
Upon arrival, Mickleberry arranged for the KALMAR representatives to give some short training classes in maintenance and operation of the equipment. FLE contractor personnel were trained in 10-, 20-, and 30-level maintenance, and were given resources to help with future operations. In addition, several military personnel were given operator training, preventive maintenance checks and services training, and tips on how to better employ the equipment.
Three military personnel were trained in how to better operate the RTCH in container handling, including Staff Sgt. Brian Wilson, a Meadville, Pa., Staff Sgt. Justin Gondeiro, a native of Geyser, Mont., and Staff Sgt. Dorothy Hightower, a Warner Robbins, Ga., native. The training was very successful and showed initiative on the part of the unit to prolong the use of its equipment and to improve its capabilities.
The 398th CSSB FLE is excited about its new resources for Material Handling Equipment. With the new training, it is the hope that all movement operations can now function more efficiently and the Forward Logistics Element can better serve the residents of FOB Prosperity and the International Zone in Baghdad.