Security enterprise manager takes Afghan deployment

By Dabra Valine, USASACOctober 5, 2018

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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The senior central case manager for the Jordan program working for the Security Assistance Command's New Cumberland Army Depot in Pennsylvania has deployed to Afghanistan.

Capt. Clifton Mays, whose home Army Reserve unit is the 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is serving as the Special Operations Adviser Team commander and mentor for the Afghan battalion commander, executive officer and support operations officer of the General Support Kandak, or battalion, while in Afghanistan.

"My position falls under the two-star command of Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan," Mays said. "I work for the O-6 commander (colonel) of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command-Special Operations Advisory Group."

ANASOC is organized into four Special Operations brigades, a National Mission Brigade, School of Excellence, General Support Unit and General Support Kandak.

In his deployed role, Mays trains, advises, assists and mentors the General Support Kandak to conduct sustainment and supply support activity operations in support of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command in order to increase ANASOC's ability to project combat power throughout Afghanistan.

This assignment in Afghanistan is like an extension of his job at New Cumberland. Mays said he sees a tie-in with what he does for USASAC.

"My position intersects directly with USASAC's mission through communication with the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and Security Assistance Office-Afghanistan at NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan regarding Letters of Release for Foreign Military Sales materiel in support of ANASOC," he said. "I directly coordinate with the Afghan Union Transport Logistics and Gear International to schedule GSK's pickup of FMS materiel in support of ANASOC from their respective locations. I also directly coordinate with CSTC-A in conducting inventories of GSK materiel in accordance with End Use Monitoring."

"Clif is one of USASAC's superstars," said Koren Scates, the chief of Central Command Branch B, USASAC. "His drive for success is one of his best qualities. His military experience carries over into the civilian world here at USASAC making him an extremely diversified and well-rounded leader within the organization."

Mays said his goal for this assignment is to leave the GSK a better prepared unit than when he arrived by increasing their operational capability through mentoring the command to ensure staff sections and companies are properly trained, equipped and employed.

Mays joined USASAC in December 2014. Prior to serving as the senior central case manager for Jordan, he has been a supply technician for Bahrain, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Jordan, a financial specialist for the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, and a central case manager for Iraq and Pakistan. He has been active duty Army and Army Reserve for 19 years.

"As the senior central case manager, I oversee the Jordan Foreign Military Sales Program as the lead on an FMS Case Management Team," Mays said. "I am responsible for the overall execution of Jordan's FMS cases both logistically and financially. I monitor case progression to ensure it remains on schedule and meets the three objectives of delivering materiel/service(s) on time (logistics), ensure case is within case value (financial), and the case is closed on schedule (closure).

"I believe this experience will help in my job as a CCM in seeing how processes within the Security Assistance Offices operate, both before cases are developed and after cases are executed. I think everyone at USASAC has an appreciation and understanding of how important what we do is, and there is a daily sense of pride that goes with it. But even in knowing the critical piece we play, there's something to be said for actually interacting with the ANASOC soldiers in combat being successful with communications equipment, weapons, ammo, clothing, vehicles, etc. provided through FMS. Additionally, you get a stronger appreciation for the Field Service Representatives in-country who are assisting our counterparts in ensuring they have the knowledge and training to operate and sustain equipment."

Mays also said he looks at this opportunity as a learning experience.

"I think every day is a learning experience; every success, failure or opportunity no matter how big or how small presents a learning experience where we can implement those lessons learned in future plans and operations," he said.