405th Army Field Support Brigade command team visits APS- 2 Duelmen

By Rabia Coombs, 405th Army Field Support BrigadeAugust 15, 2018

405th Army Field Support Brigade command team visits APS- 2 Duelmen
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. James R. Holmes III, 405th Army Field Support Brigade, and Col. Grant L. Morris, commander, 405th AFSB, provide guidance on the way forward for Army Prepositioned Stock-2 sites at Duelmen's equipment change and handoff area Aug. 8. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
405th Army Field Support Brigade command team visits APS- 2 Duelmen
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dan Carrol (left), accountable officer, 405th Army Field Support Brigade, and Col. Grant L. Morris, commander, 405th AFSB, discuss the inventory of a container used for equipment stored at Army Preposition Stock Site-Duelmen, Aug. 8. (Photo by Rabia ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

DUELMEN, Germany -- Col. Grant L. Morris, commander, 405th Army Field Support Brigade, along with Command Sgt. Maj. James R. Holmes III, 405th AFSB, conducted a site visit of Army Prepositioned Stock-2 Site-Duelmen to meet with staff members and talk command priorities, here, Aug. 8-9.

The visit was an opportunity to assess several areas while looking at equipment and site infrastructure; to review receiving, maintenance and staging procedures; to meet with staff members to hear concerns; and to provide command guidance.

Morris and Holmes officially assumed command and responsibility at a ceremony held in June.

APS-2 Duelmen, or Tower Barracks as the locals call it, is one of the brigade's five APS-2 sites and one of two APS-2 sites under the control of the brigade's Army Field Support Battalion -- Mannheim.

The Duelmen site stores and maintains equipment for both a division headquarters and a division artillery brigade. "We have a very fluent movement of equipment," said Dan Carroll, accountable officer, 405th AFSB.

Currently, Duelmen holds over 4,800 pieces of equipment. Mannheim holds close to 2,000 more pieces that are destined for Tower Barracks.

Duelmen is part of the APS program, which strategically prepositions critical war stocks worldwide to reduce deployment response times. The site is part of the European Reassurance Initiative and facilitates NATO's rapid deterrence options.

Morris and Holmes viewed equipment storage solutions on site while gaining information about storage, safety and staging procedures for Soldiers, civilians, and contractors.

Morris acknowledged the work and accomplishments of the team at Duelmen, and provided insight on future mission requirements. "We know you have good and solid operations on how to get equipment in - now we need to make sure we can discharge them with the same expertise," he said.

Morris emphasized the need to exercise the ability to issue combat configured equipment rapidly.

Combat configured equipment includes all high-tech items mounted on the vehicle, with basic initial issue items and combat enablers usually stored separately.

Previous APS sites stored equipment with combat configuration delayed to a time closer to issuing.

"You came in and you stood up the place. You were going 100 miles an hour. I am not slowing you down, but I will send your efforts in a different direction," Morris said.

Morris emphasized the importance of the command team's effort to enhance the brigade's issuing expertise and capabilities by integrating regular internal rehearsal of concept drills and issue exercises into the routine business of the brigade and its units.

"We should look at operating one continuous exercise, as this builds readiness and provides credible deterrence options for U.S. Army Europe and the combatant commander," Morris said. "The more we can do to prepare ourselves to equip the force, when the call comes, the more we ensure the Army is ready to defeat any threat."

The 405th AFSB encompasses four battalions, five Army Prepositioned Stock-2 sites, and seven Logistics Readiness Centers supporting 16 military communities located in four countries: Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The 405th AFSB is also the Army Material Command's "Face to the Field" in Europe and Africa, accomplishing sustainment missions in support of the warfighter.

Related Links:

Army Materiel Command

Army Sustainment Command

405th AFSB