Balad Supply slims down the bits, bobs and bolts for New Dawn

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  As the responsible drawdown of forces in Iraq continues, the Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Management Flight, commonly known as "Supply," has gone back to basics and cut down excess assets at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

The 35 personnel in Supply now keep track of around 7,000 currently required line items, valued at $30 million. Other items are on their way to other locations to continue to support operations around the world.

"We had a lot of stuff here," said Master Sgt. Brian Applegate, 332 ELRS Material Management Flight maintenance support superintendent. "When the drawdown started, we went through our entire stock and redistributed around 3,000 line items, such as uniform items, and sent them to other locations such as Afghanistan or back to the U.S. We also turned over one building to the base and have consolidated all supply operations to two buildings."

Balancing the needs of current operations and keeping pace with the drawdown schedule can be challenging, said Sergeant Applegate, a native of DeLand, Fla., deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. A bolt for an airplane isn't the same as a bolt for a truck, and supply has line numbers for each and every type that needs to be inventoried and tracked.

"Since flying operations have not stopped here, we still have to be able to support any aircraft that comes in, as well as our aircraft that might break down in another location," said Senior Airman Noah Clifton, 332 ELRS Material Management Flight material management technician, and a native of San Diego, Calif., deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Md. "We have spares packages that can go out to various locations with critical parts an aircraft might need. So when you add those to all the different supply items needed to make a base functional, it turns into a big deal."

As the drawdown continues at Balad, the Airmen of the 332 ELRS Material Management Flight will continue to track and trim assets to balance the current mission with future needs.

"From Iraqi Freedom to New Dawn we have proudly supported the greatest Air Force worldwide, and are the tip of the spear when it comes to the drawdown," said Sergeant Applegate. "Just as with the buildup, 332 ELRS Material Management Flight is crucial and provides just as great a role towards the drawdown."