The problem of the Afghan Directorate of National Logistics is a steady decline in equipment readiness Afghan National Defense Security Force (ANDSF) combat power, poor supply chain coordination, lack of timeliness and mission focus, incomplete and inaccurate inventory balances, reporting and tracking and a shortage of trained logistics specialists.
1st Cavalry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade (1CD RSSB) sent eight Soldiers to Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) on a Train, Advise, Assist (TAA) mission to support Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A). The team advises and provides logistical support to the ANDSF in an effort to mitigate these issues and sustain the force through logistics and maintenance.
"The Resolute Legacy to Afghanistan will not be guns and ammo, but systems and processes that enable fiscal discipline for the future," said President Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan.
Directorate of National Logistics (DNL) supports fielding and development of the ANDSF logistics organizations through contract transition, leader development, liaison, and support to elements at national level institutions in order to enable accountable Afghan-led logistics. The main effort is to transition national logistics sites to full Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) control.
The team, Sgt. 1st Class Tracey Brown, Sgt. 1st Class Byron Carter, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Legette, Staff Sgt. Krystal Heard, Staff Sgt. Kevin Long, Staff Sgt. David Miller, Spc. Adam Abdallah, and Spc. Cameron Holliday, 1CD RSSB work closely with DNL and provides guidance in the Class IX (repair) warehouse operations, and provide oversight in the multi-class container yard maintenance operations.
The operation in Class IX focuses on warehouse operations, the proper use of the Afghan National Army's Core Inventory Management System (CORE-IMS), and removal of all legacy parts, or parts that are no longer used on vehicles. By providing qualified and experienced personnel to oversee and actively manage warehouse operations will increase the productivity of the ANA.
"We have built lasting logistical systems at strategic depots within the Ministry of Defense (MoD), Central Supply Depot (CSD), Wardak and the Ministry of Interior (MOI)," said Staff Sgt. Krystal Heard, automated logistical specialist, 1CD RSSB.
According to Heard, since embedding into warehouse operations with the ANA the container yard inventory is now at 100% and military control numbers (MCNs) have been created for locally made items which has increased the functionality of the total operations.
More than 200 items have been identified without national stock numbers (NSNs). Working with the ANA cataloging officer, the team has found a permanent solution to adding all unidentified items into the CORE-IMS for customer issue.
The 1CD RSSB maintenance team has enforced the safety and environmental standards within the ANA motor pool operations to ensure preventive maintenance checks and services are complete to identify hazards, associated risk, and implement control measures prior to conducting convoy operations. In addition to enforcing safety measures, the maintenance team assists with vehicle operation over varied terrain in combat operations, transporting cargo, and guidance on preparing personnel and vehicles for movement.
All members on the team are fully trained. Their detail-oriented skills provide a visible presence to prevent hostile actions and ensure the safety of the entire team.
The RSSB team has enhanced and improved the combat effectiveness and logistics capabilities within the ANA in an effort to increase overall operations.
"The stability of the Afghan government and the performance of the ANDSF is essential in the future of Afghanistan. In order to help sustain the force they will have to continue to efficiently conduct logistical procedures to provide long-term increased capabilities," said Sgt. First Class Tracey Brown, noncommissioned officer in charge of the CSTC-A TAA mission at HKIA.
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