Photo By Sgt. James Larimer | U.S. Army Spc. Ja'mese Lewis, an automated logistical specialist with the 142nd...... read more read more
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POWIDZ, Poland – When Lt. Col. Steven Smith and his team from the 142nd Division Sustainment Support Battalion, Division Sustainment Brigade, 1st Armored Division, took over the Supply Support Activity at Powidz, Poland, in February, they found a five-year backlog of supplies worth $40 million that was not returning to the Army supply system.
"What we inherited was an Amazon distribution center that wasn't distributing," said Smith, who commanded the 142nd DSSB. "We had items like tank engines, tank cannons, track, you name it, waiting to be turned back in."
The Army's standard customer wait time – measuring how quickly supplies reach commanders after arriving at the SSA – should be two days or less. When the 142nd DSSB assumed the mission, that wait time was 95 days.
"The way we measure an SSA's efficiency is through customer wait time," Smith explained. "When a supply item arrives at the SSA, the Army is measuring how quickly that item gets to a maneuver commander."
Spc. John Ramos, an automated logistical specialist and turn-in section noncommissioned officer in charge, found himself leading the effort to clear the backlog.
"When we first arrived in October, this section was completely packed," Ramos said. "When we started digging in and doing inventory, we started finding things from back in 2017."
"If parts are just sitting here collecting dust, you're wasting money," Ramos explained. "We had parts worth $50,000 doing nothing."
In 30 days, Ramos and his team processed and returned 581 pallets of supplies to the Army supply system – $40 million worth of equipment.
"That's $40 million back into the supply chain where it can support warfighters who need it," Smith said.
Due to Ramos and his team, customer wait time has dropped from 95 days to 35 days and continues to improve.
"All credit goes to Spc. Ramos and his team of five Soldiers tackling the mountain of turn-in actions," Smith said. "His team were the ones who physically palletized bulk items for turn-in, prepared each and every single one of those 581 pallets, and loaded them onto the trucks using forklifts."
The workload at Powidz far exceeds what the team experienced at their previous assignment.
"It's extremely busy. There's no slow moment, and we always have something to do," Ramos said. "The only difference between this SSA and the one back at Fort Bliss, is that this one has about ten times more work or more parts that we are receiving daily."
The SSA supports over 500 customers in either direct support or general support roles, including the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, and various joint units assigned to European Command.
"The 142nd DSSB is the backstop logistics support to the 1st AD, so our area of responsibility is just as vast and large as the 1st AD," Smith said.
Ramos recently received the Army Commendation Medal from the 1st AD Commanding General Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor for his leadership in the transformation.
"I don't really like to be in the spotlight," Ramos said. "I just do it because it's my job, not because I want to be recognized. I have a team with me, and I know that even though I'm being recognized, it's because of them. It's like an award for the team and not just for me."
For other Soldiers facing similar challenges, Ramos offers advice: "Someone will always have the right answer. If someone tells you no or you can't do something, see if you can find a second opinion from someone else."
The 142nd DSSB also established doctrinal Field Trains Command Posts where Forward Support Companies and Brigade Support Battalion Liaison Officers position themselves at the SSA.
"The LNOs know their formation and what parts are critical to returning combat power to the 1st AD," Smith explained. "When we have that responsiveness, the LNOs can immediately identify critical parts their units need."
As units prepare for the next rotation, the 142nd DSSB is working to ensure their successors inherit an efficient operation.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2025 08:49 |
| Story ID: | 501442 |
| Location: | POWIDZ, PL |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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