Logistics group proves a joint basing success with outstanding inspection

  • Published
  • By JBER Public Affairs
  • Staff Report
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's recently created 673d Logistics Readiness Group won big in September, by earning the highest mark possible in one of its first performance reviews by outside judges.

Inspectors from Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and Pacific Air Forces Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii., conducted a Logistics Compliance Assessment Program visit, Sept. 12-15, which entailed a thorough examination of systems, people, and processes and was graded using a five-tier rating scale; outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory.

The 673d LRG earned an outstanding rating. "Throughout both logistics readiness squadrons, leadership was actively engaged," said Air Force Col. Robert Evans, JBER/673d Air Base Wing commander. "The 773d LRS especially stood out, as they received an 'outstanding' rating. The 673d ABW earned an overall 95.21 percent pass rate and a grade of 'Outstanding.'"

The inspection team identified seven Airmen from the 673d ABW as outstanding performers and the Heavy Vehicle Repair, Small Terminal Operations and Vehicle Operations Control Center teams were singled out as 'Outstanding Teams'.

"This inspection highlighted the great teamwork between the 3rd Wing and the 673d Air Base Wing, and validated our concept of support; "we win, when they win," Evans said.
According to Air Force Col. Deanna Cooper, 673d LRG commander, "The 673d Logistics Readiness Group's mission epitomizes the 673d Air Base Wing's priority to prepare, deploy and redeploy warfighting capability, both people and equipment, to meet combatant commanders requirements without discrepancies.

"The Logistics Compliance Assessment Team visit re-affirmed that arctic logisticians are doing the mission in a safe, standardized, repeatable, and compliant manner," Cooper continued.

This first year has been a banner year for the entire 673d Logistics Readiness Group. According to Prentice Fox, 773d Logistics Readiness Squadron deputy commander, "The squadron's logistical gurus orchestrated the first ever, Air Force-led brigade deployment exercise. They processed 669 vehicles, 339 CONEXs (storage compartments like semi-trailer boxes), and 4,900 tons of cargo in less than two weeks with USARAK leadership saying it was the best seen to date."

"In its first year, the 773d LRS deployed and redeployed approximately 3,500 Arctic Warriors to mission critical training at the Joint Readiness Training Center without a hitch," Fox said.

"The team of vehicle operators achieved a 99 percent support rate with PACAF's only true joint vehicle operations, supporting over 47,200 requests, hauling over 10,000 tons of cargo, and moving 174,000 passengers more than 305,000 miles to include support to Senator Ted Stevens' memorial, 2010 Arctic Thunder Air-show, C-17 recovery, F-22 recovery convoys, and countless distinguished visitor and congressional visits."
Taking care of family and getting the Arctic Warrior comfortably settled in their new work environment is also another one of the areas the 773d LRS excels in, Fox said, to include all household good shipments throughout the great land of Alaska.

Travel technicians from the 773d LRS also assist with travel arrangement for those going temporary duty, on Permanent Change of Station, and family members attending college and university outside of Alaska.

Both the 673d and 773d logistics readiness squadrons  played a critical role in supporting combat and non-combat deployments.

"Personnel from both squadrons deployed in support of Operation Tomodachi. The 773d LRS coordinated movement of 5.5 million tons of cargo, 1,400 passengers, and 183 missions directly related to humanitarian aid and relief from effects of the Japan tsunami," Fox said.

Without a doubt, both the 673d LRS and the 773d LRS are thriving in the new joint environment, Cooper said.

The 673d LRS has supported much of the logistical transformation involved in JBER's creation. The unit received a rating of "excellent" from the LCAP.

"The 673d LRS prepared JBER for the DOD-directed equipment and government vehicle accountability and marking initiative by leading teleconferences with the PACAF staff and the contract team three months before the initiative began," said Air Force Lt. Col. Patricia Csank, 673d LRS commander. "673d LRS conducted training with over 100 equipment custodians to prepare for implementation and developed tracking and accountability products for leadership to monitor status throughout the initiative."

As part of the JBER transformation, the 673d LRS took responsibility for more than 20,000 equipment items and 700 government vehicles, valued at more than $600 million and required individual inventory marking and data upload into supply systems, according to Csank.

"JBER completed IUID in 47 days versus the 90 days that it took all other PACAF LRS'," Csank said. "JBER has PACAF's second largest equipment portfolio - only one single piece of equipment could not be located and required a report of survey versus the hundreds that other bases reported as a result of this initiative."

The 673d LRS also set up a satellite HAZMART Pharmacy for JBER-Richardson.
"As a part of the overall joint basing endeavor, 673d LRS assumed primary responsibility for procuring, issuing and tracking accountability of all Fort Richardson's hazardous materials needs," Csank said. "Although the intent of joint basing is to gain efficiencies and to reduce infrastructure footprints, 673d LRS leadership realized that operating a single HAZMART Pharmacy from JBER-Elmendorf would not serve Army customers well."

So, the 673d LRS opened a satellite pharmacy office on JBER-Richardson in a warehouse already under the control of the 673d Logistics Readiness Group.
"At no-cost, 673d LRS transferred two personnel to operate the satellite HAZMART Pharmacy and maintain a customer interface in the Army shipping/receiving warehouse to screen packages with Soldiers for hazards for inventory accountability," Csank said. "Although the addition of a satellite operation is not wholly an efficiency model, it was lauded for mission effectiveness by the July 2011 ESOHCAMP inspectors."

The 673d LRS also set up a satellite weapons storage facility to serve deploying service members.

"673d LRS coordinated a Protection Level Designation for Building 4251 with the JBER Integrated Defense Council to establish a satellite weapons storage area on-site in the base supply warehouse to affect a one-stop shop for deployers," Csank
said.

Previously, the sole base supply weapon storage bunker was located near the Joint Mobility Center on the flight line.

Also in its first year, JBER was recognized for exceptional fiscal stewardship by the Defense Logistics Agency via the Million Dollar Board Program.

"Due to 673d LRS base supply efforts to consciously avert $3.37 million in the Air Force's overall acquisition costs for equipment and other items that were reutilized by taking advantage of excess property available via DLA-Distribution Services," Csank said.