BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan--Two years ago, a special emphasis project at the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System shop here was to get weapons adaptation kits back to the Soldiers on the battlefield. Today emphasis remains on the WAK items, but now the push is to retrograde WAK components from theater.
The Common Remotely Operated Station, CROWS, is a stabilized mount that contains a sensor suite and fire control software. The WAK items adapt the mount in order to accept one of four weapons that can be used with it. A complete WAK bag is valued at more than $32,000 according to Channon May, a CROWS logistics management specialist deployed from Fort Hood, Texas as a CROWS property book officer.
"I try to keep 25 of everything," said May. "More than that goes to retrograde."
May said he gets components from Army Field Support Battalion Afghanistan's retrograde processing centers and from forward retrograde element turn-in yards. Once he identifies WAK components, he starts his process.
"I collect parts, pressure wash them, wipe them down with a degreaser and let them dry," he said. "I pack like items as much as possible and take them to the Bagram RPC (retrograde processing center) once a week."
May uses 'kicker' boxes for shipment and the number of items varies. He said he tracks everything in each box for inventory control and to track cost savings.
Each box is inspected by customs officials and then sealed to await shipment to Pennsylvania.
"This is going good, it's going back into the system," May said. "Somebody, a Soldier, needs it somewhere."
May has been productive during his deployment. He is responsible for retrograding WAK components valued at more than $4,750,000 during the period from December 2014 to mid-February 2015.
Parts found to be unserviceable are taken to Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Service.
The CROWS system is a stabilized mount that contains a sensor suite and fire control software. It supports four different weapons and can be integrated onto more than 20 platforms as well as fixed site applications. CROWS allows Soldiers to acquire and engage targets while remaining in an armored vehicle or command post. CROWS falls under PEO Soldier, Product Manager Crew Served Weapons, Project Manager Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station and is supported in theater by Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) personnel who are aligned with the 401st Army Field Support Brigade.
Related Links:
1st Theater Sustainment Command
Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services
Social Sharing