BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (May 6, 2015) -- Coalition forces have a theater provided equipment program to ensure they have what is needed for missions thanks to the 401st Army Field Support Brigade's, or AFSB's, Coalition Provided Equipment, or CPE, warehouse.
U.S. Soldiers, from Task Force, or TF, Sabre 2nd Squadron, 3rd Infantry Regiment, visited the CPE warehouse recently to draw night-vision equipment, which they will sub-hand receipt to coalition partners.
The equipment that left the warehouse shelf in the afternoon would be in the hands of their coalition partner that night, Capt. Philip J. Kistler, TF Sabre S4 officer, said.
Kistler and Sgt. Larry T. Wall, TF Sabre S4 noncommissioned officer in charge, verified serial numbers on the night-vision equipment before placing it into a bag designed to hold the device and the basic issue items that accompany each piece of equipment.
The basic issue items bags were assembled earlier by Anibal Soto-Rivera, CPE operations manager, and Jimmy E. Law, CPE inventory management specialist. The basic issue items were culled from turn-ins to the 401st AFSB found-on-installation program, AFSBn-Afghanistan's redisposition property assistance team, and the 4th Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade's forward retrograde element yards.
Soto-Rivera said the items for each kit are inspected to ensure they are serviceable and then the kits are assembled. The actual night-vision equipment is stored in a separate locked area and inventoried daily for property accountability.
"We will provide coalition partners with night-vision and passive infrared capability," Kistler said. "They will be using the equipment tonight."
The CPE warehouse operates similar to a central issue facility in which it can issue boots, cold weather gear, organizational clothing, and individual equipment; but it differs in that, it also issues items like the night-vision and communication equipment.
Soto-Rivera said he acts as a liaison between the CPE and U.S. hand receipt holders, who act as sponsor units for coalition partners.
"The CPE is very important," Soto-Rivera said. "Anything I miss or fail to communicate could mean mission failure."
The sponsor units are authorized to draw equipment through an operational needs statement, coalition operational needs statement or taskers from higher headquarters. He said it is very common for sponsors to comment that they "need one for tonight's mission." He said he sees the CPE mission growing as there is increased coalition support under the Resolute Support Mission and Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
The CPE program is authorized to support troops from 21 coalition partners.
Related Links:
1st Theater Sustainment Command
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