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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -Department of the Army Civilians working at Camp Arifjan have supplied Warfighters with the necessary parts they need to keep up the fight.
The DA Civilians of the Forward Repair Activity unit from Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas and Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Ala. have specialized in fabricating and supplying parts in theater so that Soldiers have parts in stock before they need them.
“We’re getting the parts soldiers need to them quicker,” said David Smith, engine program leader from Elkhart, Ind. “That’s definitely our main effort in the fight … helping the soldier.”
Warfighters needing advanced equipment repair send it to the FRA.
“We receive assets from the supply system. We take those assets; we disassemble them, clean them, inspect them, reassemble them, test them and issue them back to the supply system,” Smith said.
Smith’s team and the entire FRA work many hours. They are also enthusiastic about their part in the war effort and serving their country as DA civilians.
“We’re willing to do whatever it takes for the soldiers to have what they need to feel confident out there in the battlefield,” said Craig Garvey, FRA weld leader from Anniston, Ala.
“We’re here for them, regardless of the hours, regardless of the heat. They’re out supporting us. We’re going to support them. It means a lot to us to be able to serve their needs. If they leave here satisfied, we know we’ve served our country,” he said.
The FRA operates at depot level. When military mechanics and other specialists are unable to fix a piece of equipment or find proper parts, they come to the FRA. The FRA’s proximity to the battlefield allows soldiers to have their parts and equipment fixed much sooner than placing orders back in the U.S.
“We can supply parts a lot quicker than it takes Soldiers to order them,” Garvey said. “A lot of times they’re going up north [to Iraq or Afghanistan] in a week or so, but it may take two months to get their parts if they order them, but we can fabricate it here in just a couple of days.”
The FRA is able to supply any part and fix equipment because of the various machines and skill sets the organization brings to the war effort. Transmission repair, engine repair, welding, machining and reverse engineering are just some of the assets available to soldiers who visit the FRA.
“We can fabricate anything that we need, anything the soldiers need. Any amount they need, we’re able to do it,” Garvey said.
The combination of speed, proximity, equipment and experience are what allow the FRA to have parts ready for use, in stock, before Warfighters even realize they’re needed to keep operations rolling.
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.14.2010 06:44 |
| Story ID: | 58071 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
This work, DA Civilians meet Warfighters’ needs before demand, by Daniel Rangel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
