Long haul saves money, transfers equipment

By Sgt. Nathaniel FosterFebruary 15, 2013

Equipment turn-in
Services members from 168th Brigade Support Battalion convoyed from Fort Sill to Fort Carson, Colo., in support of Operation Long Haul Jan. 29 through Feb. 1 to turn in excess equipment. The battalion has been conducting the mission since October, bu... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

At a time when military funds are gripped as tight as possible, Soldiers of the 168th Brigade Support Battalion found their own way to turn-in excess equipment Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 during Operation Long Haul. The battalion traveled from Fort Sill to Fort Carson, Colo., to turn the excess equipment in.

"The purpose for Operation Long Haul is to reduce excess equipment in the brigade and to transfer the equipment to units that are short the equipment," said Lt. Col. Mark Mays, 168th BSB commander.

Conducting these missions saved roughly 50 percent versus shipping the equipment through the Directorate of Logistics.

"It is very cost effective for the government and provided driving experience for the younger drivers in the battalion," said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Guillotte, a material management noncommissioned officer assigned to 168th BSB.

"I feel the sense of accomplishment conducting my part in saving the taxpayers' money for the federal defense in this time of a physical money crisis," said Guillotte.

Following an effective process, the battalion evaluated its respective equipment to make a determination of what equipment qualified as excess and then returned the selected items to units around Fort Carson.

The battalion has been conducting this mission since October and took a break during Christmas. Once the Christmas break was over the battalion picked up where it left off.

The last Operation Long Haul had the battalion making a total of seven trips to Fort Carson.

"This was more cost effective for the brigade and it gave the battalion a real world training mission for the Soldiers," said Command Sgt. Maj. John Hale, 168th BSB CSM.

These operations have established a drivers' training program to allow for increased rotation of drivers' within the battalion.

The battalion is scheduled to conduct their eighth Operation Long Haul the first part of March.

Photos of this event and other events that have happened in the 214th Fires Brigade can be viewed on the brigade's new official Facebook page at www.facebook.