Photo By Tech. Sgt. Terrica Jones | Uniforms are shredded weekly or bi-weekly depending on the changeover time at Al Udeid...... read more read more
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This article is part one of a three-part series on Security
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar - The Uniform Disposal Program supports operations security at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
“The Uniform Disposal Program started over a year ago to combat the operations security violations we were having after major rotations,” said Tech. Sgt. Tanya Gaines 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Intel analyst in charge of the Uniform Disposal Program. “We were seeing a lot of uniforms and boots in the trash cans. As of right now, we have cut the base violations down by 47 percent.”
In 2014, there were 2,453 uniform violations compared to 1,324 in 2015. There are a total of 15 uniform bins, four of which are combined bins for both uniforms and paper located throughout the installation. Personnel are encouraged to use the bins to dispose of uniforms instead of the trash cans.
The AUABI 10-701 specifies to take off name tags and dispose of the uniforms prior to discarding, Gaines added. There is also a bin by the PAX terminal to provide members one final opportunity to dispose of uniforms.
“A lot of the trash is emptied off base,” said Gaines. “Once it’s collected from here and goes downtown, we don’t want someone putting on our uniforms and pretending to be U.S. and coalition personnel and coming into the base.”
“It’s important that we keep uniforms out of the hands of anyone who might want to try to enter the installation,” said Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Carter, 379th ESFS, patrolman and UDP volunteer. “I’ve done physical security before and we’ve seen civilians wearing uniforms off base. It is important to destroy the uniforms, so no one has access to them.”
There are 11,000 transient personnel coming in and out of AUAB leaving Iraq and Afghanistan and are disposing their uniforms in our bins on their way home, added Gaines.
“OPSEC is a major concern; if we can’t keep our enemy from getting this information, then we are putting ourselves in a bad situation,” said Gaines.
Shred volunteers are encouraged to come out every other Wednesday to destroy unserviceable uniforms.
“Lately, the word has been getting out and we have been getting help, but I’m always looking for volunteers -- every other Wednesdays and in July our schedule will go to every Wednesday to try and keep up with personnel coming in and out of the area of responsibility,” said Gaines.
Master Sgt. Illeana Roebuck, 379th Expeditionary Air Evacuation Squadron respiratory therapist and UDP volunteer, for the past four months.
“I’ve told lots of people about volunteering especially younger Airmen,” said Roebuck. “It gives them an opportunity to practice service before self. There’s a lot of work that goes into it and we are able to recycle some things in the bins for the Airman’s Attic.”
The Airman’s Attic is where personnel at AUAB can access uniforms or other items if they need them.
“It’s also a good opportunity to become embedded and invested in something that guards all of our safety, as far as OPSEC is concerned, and it’s a good opportunity for us to take the lead and practice followership and leadership,” Roebuck added.
“It’s so easy to chuck the uniforms into the trash can, but the bins are all around; make sure you use them. Utilize the bins and make sure we destroy these uniforms properly,” said Carter.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2016 07:06 |
| Story ID: | 193000 |
| Location: | QA |
| Hometown: | KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, AL, US |
| Hometown: | VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 1,278 |
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