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    Supplying the fight

    Supplying the fight

    Photo By Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman | Airman 1st Class Donnie Keo from Modesto, Calif., (left) and Senior Airman Jeffrey...... read more read more

    AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR

    12.03.2015

    Story by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman 

    379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

    Airmen at the Desert Depot at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar provide office supplies to ensure critical missions continue.

    The Desert Depot at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar is the largest supply hub in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. The facility supports more than 10,000 people, six combatant commands and maintains more than 2,000 assets valued at $35 million.

    Since July 2015, the Desert Depot has issued 146,000 items, including nearly 8,000 uniforms.

    Master Sgt. Tamika Cook, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Desert Depot section chief from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, said she’s proud of the support her team of nine airmen provide.

    “I’m so honored to know my team helps more than 10,000 people get the things they need in a timely manner so they can complete their missions,” Cook said.

    “We provide office supplies to everyone at AUAB to include coalition forces from six countries,” Cook added. “We provide practically everything they need from paper and pens to uniform items and pilfer able items like flashlights, batteries, global positioning systems and multi-tools.”

    Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms are also available for service members who are deploying to locations where the uniforms are required.

    “If for some reason the member was unable to procure OCPs before they deployed and they’re forward deploying to a location where OCPs are required, they can get them from us,” Cook said. “We just need a letter from the individual’s unit deployment manager stating why OCPs are needed and we’ll issue them on the spot.”

    Airman 1st Class Juan Robalino, 379th ELRS Desert Depot journeyman from Quito, Ecuador, said he enjoys helping service members, especially forward deployers.

    “I like issuing them OCP uniforms because I know it’s for a greater cause,” Robalino said. “It feels good to know I’m supporting them and giving them some of the tools they need to do their mission. I’m really proud of them.”

    While Robalino admires service members who have the opportunity to forward deploy, many may admire him for the opportunities he’s had to develop relationships with America’s allies.

    While working in the supply store, Robalino has met service men and women from Italy, France and England. He’s also been invited to dinner with Italian air force airmen on three occasions.

    “I like meeting people and that’s the best thing about this job,” said Robalino. “I’ve made friends with people from several nations and it’s so cool to build those relationships.”

    “It’s cool because we get to create a relationship between coalition partners, they’re interested in what we do and we’re interested in what they do,” Robalino added. “Every time we get together we learn about one another’s culture and experiences.”

    Approximately 185 people visit the Desert Depot every week. The supply store, one of only three in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, also manages 126 organizational accounts and more than 600 supply custodians.

    To purchase items at the Desert Depot, individuals must be authorized to do so with a base service store/General Services Administration appointment letter signed by their commanders. Additionally, if customers need to purchase pilferable items such as batteries, they must be authorized on a Desert Depot pilferable/specialty items letter also signed by their commanders.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.03.2015
    Date Posted: 12.03.2015 11:05
    Story ID: 183373
    Location: AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA
    Hometown: QUITO, EC
    Hometown: FORT WALTON BEACH, FL, US

    Web Views: 108
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN