Army sustainers getting new facilities in Taji

Photo By Staff Sgt. Walter Lowell | Maj. Joseph Claros, left, a forward support operations officer with the 17th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Theater Sustainment Commander, discusses the layout of a refurbished warehouse with 1st Lt. Ivana Williams, right, the officer in charge of Camp Taji mayor’s cell and with 17th SB, June 30, 2016, at Camp Taji, Iraq. The mayor’s cell is responsible for workplace allocation and has overseen the contracting of the warehouse’s refurbishment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell)  

IRAQ

06.30.2016

Story by Sgt. Walter Lowell 

17th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Section

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Base leaders inspected over half a dozen buildings, including offices, conference rooms and warehouse space, to assess progress on their ongoing refurbishment here on June 30, 2016.

The buildings are for the logistical Soldiers of Task Force Phoenix, who have outgrown their current office space. The extra storage space, geographically closer headquarters, and upgraded offices will increase TF Phoenix’s efficiency.

The new facilities will also allow additional supplies needed at Taji to be present and readily available for transport rather than waiting for those supplies to be brought in from other locations, said Maj. Joseph Claros, a forward support operations officer with the 17th Sustainment Brigade.

TF Phoenix provides forward operational sustainment for U.S. military, coalition allies and Iraqi security forces battling Da’esh, also known as the Islamic State or ISIL. It is composed of Soldiers from the 336th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 17th SB, 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

“Refurbishment of these facilities enables the 17th SB and the 336th CSSB, Task Force Phoenix, to support the demand of operational sustainment and provide increased efficiency in distributing supplies for OIR and Iraq’s fight against ISIL,” said Claros.

1st Lt. Ivana Williams, officer in charge of the Taji mayor’s cell with the 17th SB, oversees workspace allocation and base life services. She has led and continues to manage the ongoing contracting process that are refurbishing the new buildings in preparation for TF Phoenix’s move-in.

“It is going to be the logistical footprint for the sustainment brigade,” said Williams, referring to the new buildings. “I work very closely with the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve’s operational contracting support,” said Williams, who is part of a team that makes sure contractors follow strict CJTF-OIR operating procedures.

Williams said that the contractor, SOS International, had to make several improvements to prepare the buildings for servicemembers. The buildings, some of them prior warehouses converted in to offices, had to be weather-proofed, repainted, secured for access control and connected to the power grid. Also, SOS-I installed air conditioners to make the buildings energy efficient.

During the walkthrough, Williams and Claros inspected the facilities and ensured that SOS-I had done its work in accordance with the performance work statement.

TF Phoenix leadership was generally pleased with the progress, said Williams. Claros said he anticipates that the new logistical hub will be operational soon.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2016
• Date Posted: 07.19.2016 08:16
• Story ID: 204339
• Location: IQ