CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – In the modern Army, Soldiers often find themselves working alongside civilian contractors doing almost the same exact job.
The supply platoon of “A” Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, has been tasked with running supply operations at the Supply Support Activity at Contingency Operating Base Adder, which is also staffed by civilian employees of the Black Hawk Management Corporation, based in Killeen, Texas.
Sgt. Matthew Bircher, of Etters, Pa., is the senior enlisted in charge of his platoon’s mission.
“We receive, store, distribute and turn in Class-9 aviation parts,” said Bircher. “We distribute parts throughout the entire brigade.”
The operation also supplies all of Iraq and Afghanistan with parts that other SSA warehouses may not have readily available, said Bircher. The warehouse carries 3,467 authorized items in its inventory, with a cash value of $56 million.
The supply platoon also orders and distributes food items that are used to stock the Grab & Go trailers, where aviation brigade Soldiers can get sandwiches, chips, cold drinks and other assorted food items for a fast meal on the run.
There have been as many as 15 civilian contractors working with Bircher and his team.
“The civilians work for me and provide assistance in parts distribution and other warehouse operations,” Bircher said. “We all work integrated together.”
Sgt. Wendell White, a resident of Annville, Pa., is the first-shift supervisor and operations manager for the supply section of “A” Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. White said it is a group effort at the SSA between the civilians and military teams. “There are civilians in every section of the SSA,” he said “They play a major role.” (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andy Mehler)
The civilians are trained to use the same online Army supply program used by Bircher to order and track the delivery status of parts requested by the units deployed in theater.
“I think we have a great rapport with the civilians,” said Sgt. Wendell White. White, a resident of Annville, Pa., is the first-shift supervisor and also the operations manager at the SSA.
“I make sure all the cylinders are turning,” he said. White said it is a group effort at the SSA between the civilians and military teams. “There are civilians in every section of the SSA,” he said “They play a major role.”
Aside from their supply activities, the platoon runs escort for incoming delivery drivers. They also run water missions, delivering pallets of bottled water to the air field, fuel point and other areas of COB Adder which are manned by Soldiers of the aviation brigade.
While working in the SSA, the platoon has made an important security improvement to the grounds by placing “HESCO” (Hercules Engineering Solutions Consortium) barriers – essentially very large sand bags — to create a one-way-in and one-way-out traffic pattern, Bircher said.
The platoon has faced some environmental challenges being in a desert climate, Bircher said.
“We’ve had to adapt to the environment. Heavy winds bring dirt and dust into our storage area,” he said.
The large tents used for storage areas are open at both ends, which can cause dust problems for the computers and cover the parts shelves in dirt.
The experience has taught everyone in the platoon something, said White. “We have a lot of young Soldiers that grew a lot here,” he said. “It’s made them more responsible.”
