An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

438th AEW, AAF work together to inventory 47,000 parts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Approximately two months ago, members of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and Afghan Air Force started the daunting task of conducting an inventory of more than 47,000 Mi-17 parts at the Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport.

To support the development and regeneration of the AAF, multiple Mi-17s have been delivered to KAIA, and with them came parts and support equipment, everything from nuts and bolts to rotor blades. Before the parts are distributed around Afghanistan, they need to be validated and correctly tracked.

"We are taking an inventory of every single part; it's a joint effort between us and our Afghan counterparts," said Tech Sgt. Luiggi Hernandez, 438th AEW air transportation advisor.

The 438th AEW mentors are using the inventory accountability as a chance to train their Afghan counterparts.

"We are doing inventory but we are also showing the AAF how to build their supply chain and how to be self-sufficient," said Hernandez.

Hernandez went through best practice supply and accountability procedures with his Afghan partners.

He went on to say "I gave the Afghans the information they needed and worked closely with them; they caught on very quickly and now they are doing it themselves, without our help at all."

After the inventory is complete, the parts will be distributed across Afghanistan to bases such as Shindand and Kandahar.

"We will sit down with our counterparts and see how they want to strategically distribute the parts across the country and then work out a plan to do so," said Maj. Scott May, Joint Aircraft Maintenance deputy director.

May explained that this inventory process helps the AAF take better control of its supply system, and has already improved efficiency in parts logistics.

"It has been great to teach a young headquarters unit the importance of asset accountability and long-term fleet health," said May.