659th conducts first divestment during Iraq deployment

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Charlotte Reavis | CAMP TAJI, Iraq – During a divestment, July 21, members of the Iraq Federal Police and members of the 659th Support Maintenance Company, based out of Fort Bragg, N. C., inventory the vehicles and items the police were given. Divestments are a part of the Counter-ISIL Train and Equipment Fund and they assist in assuring our Iraq counterparts get the equipment they need to provide security for their nation. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Charlotte Reavis, 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary))  

CAMP TAJI, IRAQ

07.21.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. Charlotte Reavis 

143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq- On July 21, 1st Lt. Andrew Berry and other members of the 659th Support Maintenance Company, based out of Fort Bragg, N. C., conducted their first divestment with the Iraqi Federal Police.
Divestments are a part of the Counter-ISIL Train and Equipment Fund and they assist in assuring our Iraq counterparts get the equipment they need to provide security for their nation.
“The rolling stock divestment included water tankers, fuel trucks, up armored Humvees, wreckers, water buffalos, flat beds and an ambulance,” Berry said. “We divested a mobility package for the 4th Brigade Iraqi Federal Police.”
The unit, who falls under the 1st Theater Sustainment Command-Operational Command Post in theater, first receives a Fragmentary Order, which is like a shopping list, Berry said, and it will have the items the Iraqis need to conduct their missions. The FRAGO can request anything from Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment (OCIE) to vehicles to weapons and ammunition.
Once the unit receives the order, they look at the equipment they have on hand, typically in a warehouse, see if they can fulfill it and prepare it for divestment. Berry said they also coordinate with an Advise and Assist team or a translator to contact the vetted Iraqi officer on the FRAGO to set up a meeting to receive the requested equipment.
“We are a (Supply Support Activity) for Iraq,” Berry said. “We get donated equipment, we receive a FRAGO for the equipment, we take it out and we divest it; we give it to the Iraqis.”
Once the Iraqi federal police or Iraq military units have the equipment, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps train them on how to use it, he continued. Berry stated that the experience to work with other Coalition Forces and the Iraqi military is good for the soldiers in the unit.
“It gives them an opportunity to get out and experience a different culture,” he said. He continued to say that sometimes during the divesture process, the local generals and officers will request the soldiers to eat and interact with them, so it allows the soldiers to experience something outside of American culture.
“CTEF in a whole is a monster,” Berry said. “Being able to respond and fulfill orders and do what we need to do to support the mission.”
The members of the 659th will continue to work with the Iraqi military and police throughout their deployment to build and sustain the partnership between the forces.

• Date Taken: 07.21.2018
• Date Posted: 08.06.2018 07:20
• Story ID: 287397
• Location: CAMP TAJI, IQ
• Hometown: FORT LIBERTY, NC, US