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Written by Spc Yolanda Moreno Leon, 138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq (29 August 2006) – In order for Soldiers to do their jobs on a daily basis, they need supplies. They need to be close, readily accessible and someone must be accountable for them.
One unit does just that, the 296th Brigade Supply Battalion is responsible for logistical support to units in Iraq so they can complete their jobs efficiently.
“We are responsible for requisitions and the issue of all class of supplies to the3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division units and supporting units’ throughout Theater,” said Chief Warrant Officer Mark Brown, warehouse accountable officer, Co. A, 296th BSB, 3rd SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div., and native of Port Orchard, Wash.
The BSB is responsible for several different types of supplies including subsistence, gratuitous health items, clothing, individual equipment, fuels, construction material, major end items, (launchers, tanks and vehicles), and repair parts and components to include kits, assemblies, and subassemblies (repairable and non-repairable) required for maintenance support of all equipment.
All supplies the BSB deals with, enables Coalition Soldiers to perform their duties daily. One supply that the BSB always tries to have more of is water.
“What we do have on hand is class I water,” said Brown. “That is one supply class we never try to be short of for the troops; so they can survive in this heat.”
In order for a unit to request supplies they have to be enrolled in the Department of Defense Activity Address Code, without it they cannot get any supplies from the BSB warehouse. Once a DODAAC is established, the unit Supply Sgt. will go to the BSB and hand in a request form for what the unit needs.
“We use the Standard Army Retail Supply System for units to order supplies,” said Brown. “The Supply Sgt. will hand in a request form depending on the class; if we have the part, we will give it to them right away; if not, we process the order. Some parts such as from having to obtain the parts form United States.
The BSB has one Sgt. working with the Iraqi Army, trying to establish their own supply unit so their units they can supply their own Soldiers.
The daily inventory at the BSB runs about four million dollars. They are also responsible for retrograde, redistribution of serviceable and non-serviceable supply. They are responsible to keep track of files, and records of everything on their main computer system.
“I like the constant challenge of moving parts,” said Brown. “In logistics’ there’s always something new to learn.”