Battlefield simplification plan nets
$12 million savings
Logistics support units find use for
millions of dollars of unused supplies
found sitting in a yard.
BY SPC. MICHAEL VANPOOL,
101ST SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN—When the 101st
Sustainment Brigade arrived in Afghanistan late last year,
Brigade Commander Col. Michael Peterman and his staff
set their sights on simplifying the logistical battlefield after
10 years of war.
From this objective came a project called “BAF After
Next,” which reconfigured the logistical environment at
Bagram. As part of the project, a “billing of material”
(BOM) yard was subject to a thorough internal inspection.
It uncovered $12 million in unaccounted for and highly
desirable building materials.
“All this material showed up that no one knew about,”
said Capt. Rob LoMonaco, the operations officer for the
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Support Team – Bagram
Detachment. “The key thing is that we figured out what it
was and where it came from.”
After the material was identified, the mobile retrograde
team for DLA came in and inventoried the containers. Inside
they found plumbing and electrical materials as well as other
soldier life support supplies—all of which are crucial to serv-
ice members on smaller forward operating bases (FOBs).
The team then scoured open orders from outlying FOBs
and distributed the supplies to units with needs and FOBs
building their bases, said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Hall, the
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF UNUSED SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN A
“BILLING OF MATERIAL” YARD AT BAGRAM AIRFIELD. THE 101ST
SUS TAINMENT BRIGADE AND A DLA SUPPORT TEAM SCOURED OPEN ORDERS
AND DISTRIBUTED THE SUPPLIES TO UNITS IN NEED OF THE MATERIAL.
(PHOTO BY SGT. 1ST CLASS PETE MAYES)
noncommissioned officer in charge of the brigade Router
Identifier Code – Geographic (RIC GEO) section, which
deals with all classes of supplies coming into theater.
“It was critical supplies just lying around,” he said. “The
customers didn’t have to wait for their order to come into
country. It was already here.”
“We found some battle space owners who needed it and
shipped it to them,” LoMonaco said. “It helped a lot of units
with material they needed. If they break a pipe, they can’t
just order a new one and receive it immediately.”
As the materials were being inventoried and distributed,
the brigade, DLA, and the Combined Joint Task Force-101
(CJTF-101) logistics and finance sections sat down and
worked out a plan. The policy they drafted provides for only
vital equipment and supplies to be brought into theater.
By limiting orders to essential materials and supplies, air
and ground transportation are free for other, more critical
missions, LoMonaco said. Aside from the $12 million saved
with the project, potentially millions more were saved in
transportation costs.
Why Hairatan Gate matters
Border crossing project promises to boost Northern Afghanistan economy, ease
future exit for coalition forces.
BY SGT. 1ST CLASS PETE MAYES, 101ST SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE
BALKH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN—The 101st
Sustainment Brigade has continued to work with its
Northern Afghan partners to ensure the success of the
ambitious Hairatan Gate border crossing project.
The project, also known as the “Northern Distribution
Network,” has been cited by Brigade Commander Col.
Michael Peterman as a “logistical game-changer,” particular-
ly in terms of what it will mean for the Afghan community
and for U.S. forces as they prepare for eventual withdrawal.
