APS-5 equipment augments the 3/4 Armor Brigade Combat Team for Operation Spartan Shield

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait -- The 401st Army Field Support Battalion-Kuwait completed an issue of Army Prepositioned Stocks-5 equipment to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Iron Brigade) in support of Operation Spartan Shield, here, Oct. 4.

The more than 300 pieces of equipment augments the 3rd ABCT's existing materiel capabilities in central and southwest Asia, even as the brigade prepares for transitioning its role in theater to the 30th ABCT in the coming months.

"Operations never just stop, and it's important to have seamless transitions," said Capt. Andrew Scholl, commander, Juggernaut Forward Support Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. "Part of what we are doing today is setting the conditions for the new unit so they have the equipment necessary to accomplish the mission set they will fall in on."

APS-5 quality assurance personnel have overseen and verified the readiness of this equipment since the last time most of it was issued more than a year ago.

"It is our duty to make sure this equipment is fully mission capable," said Staff Sgt. Dziedzorm Dzusenu, quality assurance for construction equipment, 401st AFSBn-Kuwait. "We would not let Soldiers take equipment to the field we're not comfortable with."

Scholl said the services and equipment his unit received met his expectations.

"The whole process working with the 401st was smooth and seamless between our rehearsal to the actual inventory and final signing of the transfer paperwork," he said. "There was plenty of help on hand and the quality assurance personnel were quick to verify and correct any faults."

Soldiers with the 3/4 ABCT said the equipment checks out.

"Everything was secured and the trucks were clean," said Spc. Joselyne Ortega, J-FSC, 1-8 Infantry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. "Good working crews were here to help us go through our inventory lists, and that helped speed things up."

Ortega said drawing equipment in good condition is important for mission success.

"We need to be ready to move forward at any time, so we need to have all the accountability paperwork completed and make sure everything is working so we can focus on the next part of the mission," she said.

Many of the vehicles issued were combat configured, meaning they had all of their associated basic issue items and Soldier technologies mounted on and inside each vehicle.

The "configured for combat" (CFC) concept has enabled the 401st AFSBn-Kuwait to issue equipment faster to Soldiers deploying on short deadlines by storing the equipment in a higher state of readiness.

"The CFC concept allows us to store equipment in the most effective manner for speed of issue, enabling deploying units to build combat power rapidly," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Benjamin Ridenhour, support operations, 401st AFSBn-Kuwait. "Having our equipment combat configured made this relatively short-notice issue happen with the efficiency we've come to expect.

"The expertise we've gained since we first implemented the CFC concept two years ago is a true asset to the warfighter."

Operation Spartan Shield is the U.S. effort to build partner capacity, strengthen defense relationships, and execute contingency plans when necessary for national and regional security in central and southwest Asia.

APS-5 is one of the largest sets of prepositioned ground-force equipment in the world, and is maintained in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility to give strategic planners options to meet the needs of national security requirements.

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