ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. - Deputy to the Commander Jack Cline and Tommy Carlisle, deputy director of production, visited Anniston Army Depot's forward repair activity sites March 2-11.
The tour began in Irbil (Erbil), Iraq at a relatively new FRA site.
Being a new location, much of the infrastructure is still relatively primitive and supply lines are slow at times. Despite this, Cline said, ANAD's civilians are handling the conditions well.
"They are making the best of what they have and their spirits are very high, which I was pleased to see," said Cline. "It's not like going TDY across the country here."
On the way to Irbil, the duo passed through Taji, Iraq, only pausing at the airport. Since the site was planned for a visit later in their itinerary, Cline and Carlisle didn't plan a long stay. Unfortunately, storms later that week prevented them from a return visit.
They were, however, able to see the forward repair activities at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and in Baghdad. There, they spent time with Team ANAD's deployed workforce.
"Everyone is doing really well," said Carlisle. "We went through all the shops during our visit to talk with all the employees."
ANAD has 88 men and women serving throughout Southwest Asia, performing maintenance work on small arms, M1 Abrams tanks, Paladins and engines of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle.
To do this, employees in Baghdad and Camp Arifjan have mobile parts hospitals, which are capable of fabricating a variety of parts.
"Our employees at Camp Arifjan are doing a very good job of supporting the walk-in customers, Soldiers from the units in those areas," said Cline, adding the mobile parts hospitals are often capable of fabricating a part without blueprints. "Our customers are very satisfied with the work we are doing there."
In addition to the maintenance and repair work on small arms and vehicles, one shop at Camp Arifjan is dedicated to recharging vehicle batteries for the troops, many of which are being shipped to Afghanistan.
"I've got two guys who are really doing a exceptional job to ensure we are meeting requirements for batteries in Afghanistan," said Cline.
Cline said ANAD's overseas missions are changing with the draw-down of forces, but he sees a continued need for repair activities, including the possibility of small arms repair in Afghanistan within the next year.
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