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ETDC: Equipping forces for onward movement

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephanie Rubi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  When U.S. service members deploy downrange they are issued equipment to keep them safe while in combat. The responsibility for the safe keeping, distrubition and collection of this equipment lies in the mission of Airmen from the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Expeditionary Theater Deployment Center.

ETDC Airmen issue flack vests, helmets, individual first aid kits; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense ensembles, and cold weather gear to service members enroute to Afghanistan. They also inspect and service the gear upon returned.

ETDC is a 24/7; 365-day operation that is divided into three sections; Issue, Plates and Turn-in.

A deployers first stop at ETDC is Issue where they'll receive all mandatory equipment as well as cold weather gear if needed. Airmen from the Issue section service 200 to 500 customers a week and up to 3,000 customers monthly. Last year, approximately 33,500 bags, vest and helmets were issued to Airmen deploying to Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Misty Plott, 376 ELRS ETDC superintendent, follows the motto "always put the customers' needs and safety first."

"The gear that we issue is intended on keeping our service members safe downrange," said Plott. "We ensure this by testing every ballistic plate prior to issuing to customers along with our shelf-life assets. We make sure we do this right the first time to ensure we don't put their lives at risk once they're down range."

After visiting the Issue section, transients visit the Plates section for their final pieces of equipment. Each transient is issued four plates for their flack vest. These plates protect from ballistics and shrapnel.

From the Issue section to the Plates section, groups of 50 service members are in and out of the door in approximately one hour and 45 minutes, and are now prepared to deploy.

The 376 ELRS ETDC Plates NCO in charge, Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Herron, manages the Plate's warehouse, which can house up to 79,000 plates. At any given time, more than 35,000 plates may be issued to service members downrange.

"We are a vital part of making sure everyone is protected when they go downrange," said Herron. "Plates are what make the flack vest protective and I find it truly rewarding to know deployers have the best serviceable assets we can issue them."

Once the deployment is over and it's time to return home, transients once more visit ETDC. This includes another visit to Plates, as well as Turn-in.

When plates are returned, ETDC Airmen send them to be serviced with non-destructive test equipment to inspect for cracks and holes. If a plate has a discrepancy it is shipped to U.S. Air Forces Central Command headquarters for further inspection. When it is returned from AFCENT it is placed in one of three categories: demilitarized, repairable or serviceable. Demilitarized plates are kept out of rotation; repairable plates are repaired and inspected until determined to be serviceable at which point they're placed back into rotation.

Turn-in is a quick 10- to 20-minute process for redeploying Airmen where they return all of their issued gear.

After equipment is returned, ETDC Airmen break it down, inspect and reconstitute all the equipment. During break down, equipment condition is thoroughly inspected and proper shelf life is affirmed. When bags and equipment pass inspection they are reconstituted and returned to the issue lines where they can be issued to the next group of deploying Airmen.

The Airmen at Turn-in bring the entire operation full circle. From Issue to Plates to Turn-in, this mission aims to use minimal time to keep deployed troops safe at a maximum level.
ETDC Airmen strive to make the visit for transients as simple and pleasant as possible. With so many service members processing through the line, Herron believes it's communication and teamwork that get the job done.

"Communication is key; day-shift and night-shift Airmen always speak to one another," said Herron. "If there was a large line on nights, days knows about it and is able to prepare properly for the next group of deployers. Because of that we are always prepared and customers won't have to wait. We have a total team concept here and everyone is involved."