V CORPS'S 3RD CORPS SUPPORT COMMAND OPENS NEW CENTRAL ISSUE FACILITY IN IRAQ
V Corps Release
Release Date: 7/30/2003
By Pvt. Christopher Fincham 3rd Corps Support Command Public Affairs Office
SUSTAINER ARMY AIRFIELD, Iraq -- "I said we'd have this done and ready by the end of July and well . here we are," said Sgt. 1st Class James Jensen.
And with that, Brig. General Charles W. Fletcher, commander of V Corps's 3rd Corps Support Command, along with Jensen and Sgt. 1st Class Ruby McConner, ceremoniously cut the ribbon opening the doors of the Sustainer Central Issue Facility here.
Following a tour of the facility, the keys to the completely renovated motor pool bays were handed over to Col. Andrew Swanson, commander of the COSCOM's 19th Area Support Group. The 19th ASG will run the facility.
Fletcher spoke to the soldiers and leaders assembled for the event, stressing the importance of being able to supply as well as re-supply the Army.
"Units don't tend to carry around a lot of extra basic equipment or gear," said Fletcher. "We've got soldiers wearing T-shirts because the don't have any tops, or walking around in tennis shoes because they don't have any boots to wear. Having this facility will be extremely important to the soldiers serving in Iraq right now, and (to those) who will come here in the future."
More than 150,000 troops are in the new CIF's area. Many of them received partial, if any, desert uniforms and equipment prior to deploying for Operation Iraqi Freedom. With the majority of these soldiers now going on five or six months deployed or more, the elements are taking their toll on that gear. Desert Combat Uniforms are being worn ragged, boots are wearing out, and rucksacks, and other gear is getting torn to shreds. Soldiers need gear, and now they have a place where they can get it here.
"Fair wear and tear," explained McConner, a 3rd COSCOM logistics NCO. "Soldiers can bring their things here and exchange damaged, ruined or unserviceable things for new goods that we'll have here."
The rows of empty shelves are soon to be filled, according to McConner, with gear now waiting in storage containers outside or on its way to the facility north of Baghdad.
"A lot of research was done to ensure that we had ordered things for all (job specialties) in the area," McConner said. "You have aviators, tankers, mechanics, infantrymen.each with their own specific needs. A lot of effort went into trying to ensure that we are able to adequately supply everyone from this facility."
Creating a facility at all was a task in itself, according Jensen, the CIF manager.
"It took six days just to clean this place up so we could start working in it," said Jensen.
In 27 days, the one-time Iraqi motor pool bay was rewired and painted, glass was put in, new secure doors were installed, shelves were brought in, and a supply warehouse began to take shape.
"We were working usually 16- to 18-hour days. We had a lot of local national workers come in also, and had to go out in the community to find things like doors or workers with specialties like welders," said Jensen.
With the renovations complete and the supplies and goods ordered or waiting to be shelved, 19th ASG will take over, said McConner, who will continue to be involved in the stocking the facility.
"They're going to run it, and I'll be here to ensure that they have everything they need and maintain adequate supplies," McConner said.
"We're going to start stocking the shelves, and we should be able to start supplying soldiers within the next week or so," said Swanson.
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