402nd AFSB watercraft unit completes intensive inspection

By Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathan Keyes, 402nd AFSBn-KuwaitOctober 30, 2014

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Earl B. Schonberg Jr., 402nd Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait commander, and Sgt. Maj. Tyrone P. Legier, AFSBn-KU senior enlisted adviser, take the helm of LCU-2029 during the BIREP sea trial at Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait, Sept. 20. (Phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), Army Central Command, and Water Equipment Site-Kuwait, complete a process map validation for the BIREP at Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait Sept. 24. (Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathan Keyes, 402nd... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait -- The Watercraft Equipment Site Kuwait experienced its first Brigade Inspection Reconnaissance Exercise Program Sept. 1 -- Oct. 5.

The purpose of the BIREP was to validate the timeline to activate Army Prepositioned Stock-5 vessels within the mandated 10 days.

With orders from the Army, the WES-K sent in motion a series of events that would lead to the successful activation, operation and return to preservation of two Landing Craft Utility 2000 Series vessels.

The WES-K team knew the mission was going to be fast paced and extensive work. In the past, WES-K has activated and issued several vessels, but this was the first time in 10 years it was going to be an "official" inspection.

Cramer Claxton, the contracting officer representative, 402nd Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait, and the contractors he oversees from Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company, were ready for the challenge.

The plan was to split each LCU issue into three phases (activation, operation, and turn-in). During phase 1, inventories, dock trials and sea trials were conducted. Once the vessel master signed for the vessel, phase 2 began.

During this phase, the crew continued to sail, validate crew licensing and performed a myriad of exercises consisting of man overboard, abandon ship and fire drills. The turn-in phase was the reverse order of phase 1.

After several in progress reviews, hot washes, after action reviews and process map working groups, the BIREP ended.

According to battalion officials, the BIREP was a success. It demonstrated that all stakeholders should continue to seek innovative techniques and processes to make their organization more efficient by weaving AARs and lessons learned into their internal processes.

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