101st BSB learns why APS-5 means 'Ready to Fight'

By Sgt. William Taylor, 402nd AFSB Public AffairsNovember 24, 2014

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Maj. Larry Lara, 402nd Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait support operations officer, briefs key leaders of the 101st Brigade Support Battalion at the Lot 58 Issue Yard, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Oct. 11. (Photo by Sgt. William Taylor, 402nd AFSB Public... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- The Warfighter needs to know what type of supply, transportation, and equipment support is readily available in a moment's notice when it comes to contingency operations.

To get a better understanding of what the 402nd Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait brings to the Warfighter through the Army Prepositioned Stock-5, the key leaders from the 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, completed an officer and noncommissioned officer development program and toured the AFSB-KU's working areas along with the Army Prepositioned Stock-5 footprint.

"The big takeaway is that the logistical capabilities exist," said Lt. Col. Roger L. Keen, 101st BSB commander. "At some point in time in these Soldiers' careers, they will have to draw or turn in equipment here, and it is important for them to understand the process."

The tour began at the Battalion's Lot 58 with a briefing from Lt. Col. Earl B. Schonberg Jr., commander, AFSBn-KU. The 101st BSB leaders were able to see the process of how equipment is issued from Lot 58. Maj. Larry Lara, AFSBn-KU support operation officer, briefed the key leaders on the steps taken to ensure quality control.

The BSB's leaders also received a brief from Andre Owens, Retrograde lead contract officer representative, explaining Redistribution Property Accountability Team yard procedures. The key leaders then toured the Lot 30 Retrograde area, foreign military sales vehicles, maintenance bays, sterile lot, centralized receiving and shipping point yard, the care of supplies in storage warehouses and work centers to get a better understanding of the process of Care of Supplies in Storage and ensure "Ready to Fight" is more than just a motto.

"This was a great leadership development tour, and we now know how to get the logistical support for our real-world mission," said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin White, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, 101st BSB. "It is amazing the amount of equipment that is readily available for the mission here. The knowledge of the personnel in the briefs was extensive."

Keen said he would take the information learned about the COSIS program back to Fort Riley, Kan., to discuss the options of putting the 1st ID's equipment into the program.

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