By Sgt. KaRonda Fleming, 13th SC(E), LSA ANACONDA PAO
Apr 27, 2007 - 2:29:12 PM

Staff Sgt. Jimmy L. Mitchell, the storage NCOIC for the 32nd Multi-functional Medical Battalion, from Fort Bragg, N.C., shows 2nd Lt. Ali Faesal, the officer in charge of the Taji National Depot, Iraqi Army 6th Infantry Division warehouse, how to understand the paperwork for conducting warehouse inventory. (US Army photo by Sgt. KaRonda Fleming, 210th MPAD)

Blackanthem Military News:

LSA ANACONDA, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers from the Taji National Depot, Iraqi Army 6th Infantry Division, attended a weeklong partnership program to help establish an efficient medical logistics system for its Army.

The program, instructed by Soldiers from the 32nd Multi-Functional Medical Battalion, is designed to enhance Iraq’s Ministry of Defense’s medical support system.

By coming to the class, five IA soldiers gain the concept of how to set up their own medical logistics in order to supply the Iraqi divisions throughout Iraq, said 2nd Lt. Kelsha D. Weaver, the deputy support operations for the 32nd MMB, from Fort Bragg, N.C. There are 10 Iraqi Divisions and five reserve supporting units, which are equivalent to the Army’s Forward Distribution Teams.

Weaver, a native of Lafayette, La., said “If they see our operations and how we interplay with our FDT’s, then they can get ideas on how they can distribute their Class VIII items out to the Iraqi Army.”

“When they have an established system of supplying their divisions, then we will know this class benefited the Iraqi Army,” Weaver said.

The 32nd MMB stores level I, (small company) and level II (battalion size), aide station supplies, which are distributed to servicemembers throughout Iraq, Weaver said.

The officer in charge of the TND warehouse, 2nd Lt. Ali Faesal, said the training has helped him learn how to manage his warehouse.

He said he learned how to make an inventory of supplies to include the shipping, receiving, and storage. He also learned new classification methods.

Another important concept Faesal learned was how he could ask, Brig. Gen. Samir, the IA surgeon general, for items the warehouse needs.

With the numerous items stored at the warehouse, the Soldiers of the 32nd MMB complete a 10 percent inventory each month, along with a 100 percent vault and cage check every six months. This helps verify and fix any discrepancies with the electronic inventory said Spc. Zatic S. Davis, a medical logistician, from San Antonio, Texas.

“If there are any discrepancies, we must research all transactions and submit a memorandum explaining exactly what happened to the item,” Davis said.

The paperwork tells the higher command what happened to the items, he said.

The Iraqi Army soldiers were taught how to inventory as well as conduct research on the items through on-the-job training. Faesal said it is important to take the experiences learned from the 32nd MMB, because they are very knowledgeable about their job.

The students described their experiences as the most rewarding they have ever observed as logistics personnel. They said they plan to implement the training to their counterparts upon their arrival back to Taji.

“I enjoyed the classes because every day I had something new to learn here in medical logistics,” Faesal said. “I will reflect the views that I got from the American Soldiers, trying to tell my unit just what I learned at the American base.”

“We have come a long way with this partnership and training with the Iraqi soldiers,” said Lt. Col. William M. Stubbs, 32nd MMB commander, during an awards presentation completing the training.

“We’ve had the opportunity to meet with the Iraqi Army’s surgeon general, and he said he is very appreciative of this battalion’s effort in supporting his soldiers and supporting his Army.”

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

Iraqi soldiers from the Taji National Depot, Iraqi Army 6th Infantry Division perform a 10 percent inventory of items on a shelf during a week-long training class held at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad, Iraq. (US Army photo by Sgt. KaRonda Fleming, 210th MPAD)

Iraqi soldiers from the Taji National Depot, Iraqi Army 6th Infantry Division perform the inventory of items on a shelf during a week-long training class held at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad, Iraq. (US Army photo by Sgt. KaRonda Fleming, 210th MPAD)

2nd Lt. Kelsha D. Weaver (center), the deputy support operations for the 32nd Multi-functional Medical Battalion from Fort Bragg, N.C., and Spc. Zatic S. Davis (right), a medical logistician, explain the importance of a flammable material storage area to 2nd Lt. Ali Faesal (left), the officer in charge of the Class VIII Taji National Depot Iraqi Army warehouse during a week-long training class held at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad, Iraq. (US Army photo by Sgt. KaRonda Fleming, 210th MPAD)

Lt. Col. William M. Stubbs, 32nd Multi-functional Medical Battalion commander hands 2nd Lt. Ali Faesal, the officer in charge of the Class VIII Taji National Depot Iraqi Army warehouse, a certificate of appreciation for his hard work and service of completing the week-long training classes on learning how to set up medical logistics in order to supply the Iraqi divisions throughout Iraq. (US Army photo by Sgt. KaRonda Fleming, 210th MPAD)

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at 7:32 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.