Renegades retrograde efforts include ammunition disposal

Photo By Tyrone B Clayton | The explosion from the destruction of munitions by the 389th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Armored DIvision Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), is visible outside of Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, June 6, 2015. The munitions were destroyed as part of the U.S. Army's drawn down in the country. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyrone B. Clayton, 389th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

06.06.2015

Courtesy Story

15th Sustainment Brigade

By 1st Lt. Ryan Stallings
389th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division RSSB Public Affairs, USARCENT

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the 389th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command, (Expeditionary), cover many facets of the current sustainment and retrograde mission in Afghanistan. Supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel allows the battalion to perfect its operations, hone its logistical skills and garner the valuable experience that only a deployed Soldier receives.

One of the most important missions the 389th supports is the ongoing retrograde operations to bring the levels of personnel, equipment and property to the right levels in order to meet the intent of U.S. Forces – Afghanistan. An often overlooked part of the retrograde mission involves properly disposing of out of date ammunition.

The 389th recently teamed up with a convoy escort team from the 950th Engineer Clearance Company, Wisconsin National Guard and civilian explosive ordnance disposal and ammunition technicians from the Joint Munitions Destruct-Afghanistan Team to safely dispose of approximately 1,600 lbs. of ammunition and explosives at an undisclosed location outside of Bagram Air Field.

Master Sgt. Meliza Diaz Zayas, the 389th Operations noncommissioned officer in charge, went on the mission and enjoyed working with the other Soldiers and civilians, “It was a great experience conducting the mission and working with the 950th Combat Engineers and the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Team. It was good to be there with our Soldiers to better understand the mission and to truly appreciate what they do in every mission.”

The ammunition that eventually finds its way into the demilitarization (DEMIL) process is classified as out of date or unserviceable. Instead of risking detonation during transit back to the United States or the possibility of ammunition falling into enemy hands in the future the out-of-service explosives are destroyed in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Jamal Roberts, 389th computer automations helpdesk noncommissioned officer in charge, also went on the mission. As a former infantryman, Sgt. Roberts gets excited at the thought of pre-convoy maintenance, communications checks and standard operating procedures checks with the 389th Soldiers. “It (the DEMIL mission) is the complete opposite from my role day-to-day as the computer automations helpdesk NCOIC. While our number one priority is safety, the mission also allows noncommissioned officers with experience the opportunity to mentor younger Soldiers and that’s what it’s all about.”

Safely downsizing the stocks of out-of-date ammunition will continue to be a key component of the retrograde operations for the 389th CSSB and the 1st Armored Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade as the U.S. Forces draw closer to transitioning out of Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 06.06.2015
• Date Posted: 07.21.2015 09:00
• Story ID: 170650
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
• Hometown: QUEENS, NY, US