401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony

By Justin Graff, 401st AFSB Public AffairsNovember 21, 2016

401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A MaxxPro mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle drives along an aisle in the center of the audience and into a new warehouse during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov. 17. (U.S. Army Photo by Justin Graff, 401st AFSB Pub... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Left to Right: Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, command sergeant major, U.S. Army Sustainment Command; Lt. Col. Tim Haylett, commander, 401st Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait; Maj. Gen. Edward Daly, commanding general, ASC; Col. Aaron Stanek, com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Edward Daly, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, congratulates 401st Army Field Support Brigade personnel after a ribbon cutting ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov. 17. (U.S. Army Photo by Justin Graff, 401st AFSB Public A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Tim Haylett, commander, 401st Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait, thanks all those who contributed to opening the nine new warehouses during a reception after a ribbon cutting ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov. 17. (U.S. Army Photo by J... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Tim Haylett (left), commander, 401st Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait, and Col. Aaron Stanek (center), commander, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, cut a cake during a reception after a ribbon cutting ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
401st AFSB commemorates warehouse grand opening in ribbon cutting ceremony
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Edward Daly (left), commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, and Robert Wurm pose for a photo to demonstrate the massive size of a new warehouse after a ribbon cutting ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov. 17. (U.S. Army Photo by... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- The 401st Army Field Support Brigade held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of nine new warehouses here, Nov. 17.

The nine new warehouses provide a total more than 576,000 square feet of useable space and are slated to house rolling stock from multiple combat brigade sets.

Col. Aaron Stanek, commander, 401st AFSB, spoke to an audience of brigade personnel and key logistics leaders during the ceremony.

"Today we gather to mark the beginning of a new chapter in Army Materiel Readiness -- a blue ribbon which underscores our 100% commitment to delivering readiness to the warfighter," Stanek said. "These new warehouses are all about delivering sustainable readiness in a complex and rapid changing environment."

During his remarks, Stanek thanked U.S. Army Materiel Command, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 401st Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait Soldiers, contractors who support Army Prepositioned Stocks-5, and the government of Kuwait.

"With these new facilities, we are postured to ensure long-term responsive support to theater commanders," Stanek said. "We are stewarding Army resources in terms of materiel, increasing readiness to the warfighter and being fiscally responsible and accountable to the American tax-payer.

"But this is just the beginning, not the end. We must continue this momentum of teamwork, and we must remain dedicated to superior service while providing Army materiel readiness at the point of need."

The new warehouses include climate control, humidity control, energy efficient LED lighting, ventilation systems for carbon monoxide, and powerful fire suppression systems, all of which can be controlled by a warehouse manager from a central point.

Stanek called the new facilities "the gold standard for integrating technology."

After completing his remarks, Stanek was joined by Maj. Gen. Edward Daly, commanding general, ASC; Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, command sergeant major, ASC; Command Sgt. Maj. Perry C. Williamson, command sergeant major, 401st AFSB; and Lt. Col. Tim Haylett, commander, 401st AFSBn-Kuwait to cut the ribbon.

Following the ribbon cutting, the audience gave a standing ovation as the first truck drove into Warehouse 4004 with Staff Sgt. Andrew Weihi, noncommissioned officer of the quarter, 401st AFSB, serving as the ground guide.

The 401st AFSBn-Kuwait commander, Lt. Col. Tim Haylett said the ceremony was a capstone on a monumental team effort.

"This idea began over three years ago with a vision to provide greater responsiveness to the combatant commander and increase readiness at the point of need," Haylett said. "Our current team has continued on with this vision, working tireless hours to bring this equipment out of the dessert.

"To see these vehicles move inside a state of the art facility, it sends a message to our team that what we are doing is important to the Army and to the development of APS."

The new warehouses are expected to house an additional 20 percent of APS-5's combat equipment and eliminate thousands of hours in repairs and millions of dollars in parts.

"We looked at how we could increase efficiency and effectiveness in the issue process and move from a 'ready to issue' force to a 'ready to fight' force," Haylett said.

"We now have nine new facilities that will provide protection for our three brigade sets. The warfighter will receive a product that is like new -- able to shoot, move, and communicate effectively throughout the battlefield."

After the ceremony, much of the audience moved to an adjacent warehouse for a walk-through tour and reception, which included a cake cutting.

Related Links:

401st Army Field Support Brigade on Facebook