By Amanda Tucker
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Iraqi army logisticians and their coalition partners gathered in an Iraqi army logistics conference in Kirkush, Iraq, Oct. 8, 2008.
Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, commander of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), based out of Fort Knox, Ky., Col. Therese O'Brien, commander of the 55th Sustainment Brigade, based out of Fort Belvoir, Va., and Brig. Gen. Steven L. Salazar, the commander of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, attended the conference to provide advice on procedures and training for vehicle repair and Class IX repair parts, for the Iraqi Army's supply system.
Iraqi and coalition Soldiers filled every seat and lined the walls of the room as the conference began. Brig. Gen. Munaam, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics for the Iraqi army, opened the conference and discussed several recent issues.
According to Munaam, instead of issuing or installing new engines, 3rd Line maintenance companies have repaired 257 Humvees, preventing the IA from spending more money. Munaam also gave guidance to 5th IA leaders that push packages, a set of generic parts, were available at the Taji National Supply Depot, but would not have everything to meet the 5th IA's requirements. Munaam said that $10 million in humvee parts would be purchased in the near future.
Munaam also addressed the group about accountability for the vehicles. After vehicles were destroyed or deemed non mission capable, the vehicles would be transferred out of the inventory. There were previous problems when vehicles were not on modification tables of organization and equipment or MTOEs. In one example Munaam used, out of 87 vehicles, 86 were not accounted for.
To solve the problems of accountability, Munaam said each division would have its own internal committee to review the packets transferring vehicles out of the inventory. He gave the divisions 30 days to account for the vehicles and get them out of the inventory before the joint headquarters would collect the packets, making the process last approximately two months.
Munaam addressed the problems occurring with lack of operator maintenance of the vehicles causing engines to break down. Munaam referred to an incident when Munaam and Lt. Gen. Adullah inspected 21 Humvees in a division and discovered 14 without engine oil and seven without water in the radiators. Munaam mentioned the fact that, in 5th Division, 67 Humvees need engines.
Munaam informed the commanders they would have access to 10 million dinars for vehicle parts. He advised the money be used in smaller increments, adding that larger requests would have a higher chance of disapproval. He told the commanders to be patient because it would take time to attain the funds.
Munaam asked for commanders to take care of the equipment that is paid for with the funds provided. The room reverberated with the sound of laughter when Munaam spoke of an instance when parts fell out of a container when Munaam opened the doors.
After Munaam finished addressing the commanders, Iraqi leaders discussed all the matters addressed by the general. Lally and Brig. Gen. Steven Salazar, the commanding general for the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, gave advice to the IA leaders, including recommendations on courses to help train the IA on logistics.
After the conference was dismissed, Col. Muhammed led coalition forces leaders on a tour to see the 3rd Line Repair and Maintenance Company humvee and engine repairs, welding shop, carpenter section and recovery assets. The officers were able to see first hand how the maintenance on the vehicles had affected the engines and how the IA were working to improve the process.