SSA troops work behind scenes for Rakkasans

Photo By Spc. Justin Snyder | Corporal Courtney Smith, Company A, 626th Brigade Support Battalion Supply Support Activity Platoon, processes information on unit supplies at the SSA warehouse on Camp Striker, July 16.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.18.2008

Story by Spc. Justin Snyder 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By Spc. Justin Snyder
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Working out of a warehouse on Camp Striker, a single platoon of Soldiers works relentlessly to provide troops the tools they need to be successful.

From pens to plywood to wheels, the Company A, 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Supply Support Activity Platoon, provides it all.

The warehouse stores Class I (food and sustenance), Class II (unit supply), Class III (oils and petroleum), Class IV (Construction materials) and Class IX (repair parts for vehicles) supplies.

"People don't always know who we are and exactly what we are doing because we work behind the scenes," said Cpl. Courtney Smith, Co. A, 626th BSB."It's not really about being noticed, though. If we don't do things right, the unit can't succeed."

Units throughout the Rakkasan area of operations put their orders through the SSA. After the order is received, it gets processed and loaded up in shipping containers for transport to the unit. If the items are not available at the warehouse, the Soldiers coordinate with other SSA warehouses to get them.

"It's kind of like if you were at home and needed bread, you would go to the store and get it," said Sgt. Patricia O'Connell, Co. A, 626th BSB non-commissioned officer in charge of storage. "We are that store, and if we don't have something, we are working to get it."

The SSA plays a big part in making the Rakkasan Soldiers' missions possible. These Soldiers put in long days to keep up with the daily grind of supporting the entire area of operations.

The SSA Soldiers drive forklifts, pack materials, input information into computers and load the shipping containers for delivery.

"Our Soldiers do all of the work," said O'Connell, a native of Syracuse, N.Y. "They do everything from packing to distribution. Without them, we'd be hurting. They do a great job of covering all the necessary angles to make this operation a success."

The units will often turn in extra or non-working supplies to the SSA. The supplies are then either destroyed or sent out to units who may need them. Turning in the unused supplies saves the Army money.

The SSA also must perform a 100 percent inventory of all materials prior to leaving country. This can take up to four days to complete.

"We have (more than) 5,000 lines of supplies throughout the different patrol bases in the AO," said O'Connell. "All of that needs to be accounted for and is an important task to get done."

Smith said she loves her job and is proud to know she is partly responsible for the success of the brigade.

"Almost everything comes from here. Whether it's water or other supplies, we make it happen," said Smith, who is from Decatur, Ga. "It's a lot of responsibility, but without us there is no mission. I'm not out there fighting as an infantryman, so this is my way of contributing. "

• Date Taken: 07.18.2008
• Date Posted: 07.18.2008 09:24
• Story ID: 21601
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ