US Air Force,
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq: Joint expeditionary tasking Airmen from 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here fill roles in the Army's 586th Task Force and recently processed more than $1 billion worth of vehicles during their tenure here.
The redistribution property assistance team members process vehicles ranging from Humvees and mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to tanks and other armored security vehicles.
“We have the convoys come in and what we do is down load them and take them off and inspect them and make sure the vehicles are clean of trash, brass and hazardous chemicals,” said Tech. Sgt. John Mumford, a 732nd ELRS member.
The vehicle yard at Camp Liberty serves as the focal point for all incoming vehicles throughout Iraq.
“We are basically in charge issuing the vehicles and shipping them throughout the country and surrounding regions,” said Staff Sgt. Andre Scott, a 732nd ELRS member. Sergeant Scott is deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va., and is a native of Marion, S.C.
For most vehicles, the Camp Liberty yard isn't the last stop before being sent back downrange.
“We inspect them (vehicles) and make sure they are free of any hazards and afterward the vehicles will go to Kuwait for refurbishment, so when they do go back to the front lines they (ground troops) aren't getting a piece of junk,” said Sergeant Mumford, who is a vehicle maintainer from Scott AFB, Ill., and native of Alpena, Mich.
Some vehicles are sent to Camp Taji, Iraq, where they will be used by the Iraqi military, but first must be stripped of all communication equipment for security purposes before being used by the Iraqis.
Dan Shrock, a contractor from ManTech who works in the yard, said they have saved the government approximately $280 million on all the communication equipment they have salvaged from the vehicles alone.
Capt. Shaenan Jett, a 732nd ELRS member, said the best experience he and his team have had as JET Airmen is helping move equipment so Army personnel can redeploy, move to Afghanistan or just getting Army assets to the war fighters who need it.
“The experience of being a JET Airman is something people should try at least once in their life,” said the Andrews AFB, Md., member and Lacey, Wash., native. “I think it would open a lot of people's eyes. It's something that the Air Force doesn't do day-to-day. I have a medical admin who got to drive a tank. I mean that doesn't happen every day in the Air Force.”
