FORWARD OPERATING BASE APACHE, Afghanistan - For one individual supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, his service did not stop when he retired from active duty.
As a contractor, Woodson Landry, logistic management specialist for the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Brigade Logistic Support Team, continues serving with his "family" on Forward Operating Base Apache, assisting the brigade with equipment readiness.
He helps with the expedition of parts, new equipment fielding and anything that deals with equipment.
"We have guys who help soldiers cut down on the troubleshooting process for fixing equipment," said Landry. "As Army Material Command leads on ground reach out to individually affect procuring and getting parts quicker so the soldiers won't have much down time on their equipment."
Subject matter experts can look back into databases or ask other personnel to give a fix or correction to a problem with vehicles, communication, weapons and all type of equipment in the Army's inventory.
The operational tempo while deployed is greater than in the states, causing regular wear and tear more frequently on all the equipment in service.
"I was a soldier. I am a soldier. I'll always be a soldier," said Landry. "I like working with soldiers and helping them solve problems."
In respect to the unit eventually retrograding equipment, Landry said the government-furnished equipment will either return to the states, be transferred to the Afghans or be disposed of in theater.
Landry, a New Iberia, La., native, served for 20 years as a supply specialist in the Army. He has worked with Combined Task Force Duke since the unit was at Fort Hood, Texas. He stayed with them through their deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 and remained with them when they stood up at Fort Knox, Ky.
While in service, Landry deployed in support of Desert Shield/ Desert Storm for seven months. This is his third tour to Afghanistan.
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