Air Force takes over LSA Anaconda operations

BALAD, IRAQ

08.28.2007

Courtesy Story

316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

By Sgt.1st Class Neil K. Simmons
302nd MPAD

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Iraq – The mayor cell has always been the hub of activity where service members and contractors can go for answers about base operations. However, visitors will now notice one key difference; the person helping at the counter is no longer Army, they are Air Force.

Since July 28, the Airmen of Detachment 1, 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group have managed the daily operations.

"We are the focal point for all customer service for basic life support for the garrison," said Air Force Col. Ralph J. Romine, Det. 1, 332nd EMSG commander and sole Air Force Reserve Airman in the detachment. "So, whether you're transitioning or you live here, are permanent party or are visiting, we manage it all."

The more than 90 Airmen and one Soldier of Det. 1 work night and day to ensure contract work on everything from base construction to communication goes smoothly. By mid-September there will be well over 100 Air Force men and women serving in the mayor cell, and they are no strangers to their work.

"We do this on the Air Force side all the time. All my guys work in their specialty back in their Air Force bases," said Romine, who deployed from Wright Patterson Air Force Base. "We're not bringing them into something new. This is what they do every day."

Adding to the capabilities of Romine's team is the fact that a majority have deployed before. However, providing logistical support is only part of Romine's mission.

His primary purpose is to evaluate the feasibility of Air Force personnel taking over more base operations throughout Iraq and how Air Force and Army procedures can be adapted to work together.

"We work together extremely well. Even before I got here the Army worked really well with the Air Force," said Romine. "What's been hard for us is not knowing all the intricacies of how an Army base operates. There are a lot of things we can streamline, but we have to be careful in streamlining the processes we implement, because whatever we do affects 28,000 people."

Many improvements will be transparent to the user, said Romine. Personnel here will never know there were changes. Others will be made slowly over many weeks to limit their impact on operations.

Also, part of Romine's improvement plan is getting cooperation from all military and civilian personnel in addressing several priority issues.

The first of these is force protection. Service members must secure their ID, their weapon and keep practicing in-direct fire drills.

Second is safety. Everyone should use the battle buddy concept and be more attentive while driving. Don't take short cuts.

"There's enough dangers outside the wire, we don't need to be creating any additional hindrances to our mission on the inside," said Romine. "We need to take our time and be safe."

Third is environmental. "We owe it to the Iraqi government that, when we turn over this base some day, we turn it over in good condition environmentally," said Romine. "Don't dump your hazmat into the sewer system."

Lastly, service members should have a good tour and use the programs available to them.

"Our MWR calendar looks like the calendar of a cruise line and we do that on purpose. We want to make sure that it's not just about the work. You've got to enjoy yourself a little bit," Romine said.

With so many great things in the works, the Airmen of Det. 1 should have no problem proving Air Force has what it takes to assume base operations in the future.

"They're doing an amazing job," said Romine. "As a commander I couldn't be any more pleased with the team that I have."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2007
• Date Posted: 08.28.2007 14:14
• Story ID: 12033
• Location: BALAD, IQ