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Depot Support Activity Far East

The Depot Support Activity Far East in the Republic of Korea provides tailored support that is often faster, better, and cheaper than any other alternative. The Depot Support Activity Far East (DSAFE), an Industrial Operations Command activity, provides tailored services for clients in a specialized market. It is a unique activity because it operates very much like a commercial service company. It is also unique because it carries out its assigned mission efficiently with only 35 personnel.

DSAFE was established in October 1985, with the continuing reorganization of the Army Materiel Command (AMC). DSAFE was redesignated Depot Support Activity - Far East (still DSAFE) under the newly formed Industrial Operations Command (IOC). DSAFE operates as a reimbursable organization, generating 84% of its operating funds through its intensive marketing efforts. All of the work done at the depot is by contract. Operated like a commercial business, DSAFE maintains a business base that exceeded $1.5 million in fees in fiscal year 1998.

In Korea, AMC runs the Depot Support Activity-Far East (D-SAFE) which has two staging sites. One is at Camp Market, in the north near Inchon, and in the south, the Pusan Support Facility serves as the other central staging site. In addition, D-SAFE manages the Depot Support Mission for the Republic of Korea, performing MWO application for AMC MSCs and contracting with the industrial base for depot level programs. Although any military post, camp, or station can also serve as a staging site when that is more efficient, it is highly recommended that for OCONUS fielding and MWO applications the AMC staging sites be utilized to maintain security and control.

DSAFE has two large warehouse and fielding complexes, one at Camp Market and one at the port in Pusan. Camp Market is in the vicinity of Inchon and is a staging area and breakbulk point for units stationed along the demilitarized zone. In Pusan, DSAFE serves as a receiving area for items shipped in by sea and as the supply point for depot-level contractors.

DSAFE's Camp Market operation has secure facilities for weapons and sensitive items. Operations at both Pusan and Camp Market include administrative support personnel, two 22,500-square-foot warehouses, 100,000 square feet of fenced-in, open storage, complete motor pools, office space for fielding teams, classrooms for new equipment training, and e-mail and datafax access. Cold storage also is available at Pusan.

Headquarters DSAFE, located at the Far East District Engineer (FEDE) in downtown Seoul, is the operations center. From there, project and program managers direct DSAFE's field operations at Camp Market (30 miles below the demilitarized zone) and at the Pusan Storage Facility, in the southern port city of Pusan. DSAFE's mission in support of U.S. Forces Korea is threefold - · Depot-level contracting. · Total package fielding (TPF). · Application of depot-level modification work orders.

Staging the fielding of new equipment, applying modification work orders, and establishing depot-level contracts are challenging at best. The unique cultural differences and deployment of forces makes them even more challenging in the ROK. DSAFE is staffed primarily by U.S. and Korean civilians who are very adept at navigating what to outsiders appears to be a logistics maze.

DSAFE's U.S. civilians are card-carrying Department of the Army civilians. All DSAFE civilians carry Status of Forces Agreement Cards, commonly referred to as "SOFA" cards. DSAFE's civilians are all "emergency essential" and, in the event of a conflict on the Korean peninsula, don their battledress uniforms and continue working to support U.S Forces Korea.

As a reimbursable service activity, DSAFE offers a commodity that is uncommon these days-great service at reduced cost with less risk. DSAFE provides support that is often faster, better, and cheaper than any other alternative. Customers pay for the services they receive. DSAFE receives direct funding to cover overhead costs only. Unlike units operating under Department of Defense Working Capital Funds, DSAFE cannot go into the red. Its survival depends on customer satisfaction. For all practical purposes, DSAFE is a corporate entity with overhead costs, direct labor charges, and materials-handling fees.

DSAFE is a nonprofit activity that operates under a memorandum of agreement with Eighth Army. Under the terms of the agreement, DSAFE acts as Eighth Army's executive agent for fielding all new equipment and applying depot-level modification work orders. By contracting with the Korean industrial base, DSAFE performs 97 percent of all depot maintenance and rebuilds in Korea. DSAFE manages depot-level contracts for the Army Materiel Command (AMC) subordinate commands that sponsor the rebuilds.

DSAFE offers a full range of logistical and maintenance services that range from tracking, receiving, and issuing small sensitive shipments, conducting entire fieldings, and managing depot level maintenance contracts with Korean industry including the completion of Technical Data Packages and Statement of Work and performing Technical Assistance on request; operates a Total Package Fielding (TPF) central site to consolidate and ensure complete systems; monitors and performs reporting requirements on Modification Work Orders (MWOs) performed in the Republic of Korea; and acts as a central point of contact in country for execution of the AMC Warranty Program and assisting in the resolution of Warranty related problems.

Total Package Fielding (TPF) is the Army's standard fielding process. In 1984 the Army began using TPF on a test basis and made it the standard fielding process in 1987. It is designed to ensure thorough planning and coordination between the *Combat Developers/Trainers, the *Materiel Developers/Fielding Commands (MD/FC), and the gaining Major Army Commands and using units involved in the fielding of new materiel systems. At the same time, it is designed to ease the logistics burden on the using and supporting Army troop units.

DSAFE operates two TPF sites. These facilities provide support services such as receiving, inventorying, inspecting, deprocessing, and delivering a complete weapon system. The weapon system may consist of end items, authorized stockage list, prescribed load list, special tools, test equipment, additional support items of equipment, and technical manuals. If a customer is conducting a TPF, DSAFE offers large, secure storage areas, complete with materials-handling equipment and maintenance facilities. Through these sites, DSAFE can receive, inventory, deprocess, and hand off complete, "ready for war" systems directly to the soldier or to war reserves. DSAFE's project managers monitor all scheduled fieldings in Korea. Everything is done with emphasis on total satisfaction for the customer and the soldier in the field.

For depot-level equipment modifications, DSAFE serves as the central consolidation and reporting point. Things sometimes get lost in Korea; however, DSAFE has zero tolerance for lost items. High-tech equipment replacement costs easily can exceed what it would have cost to hire DSAFE in the first place.