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It's a win-win situation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
  • 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGHDAD --  Giving something away should be a fairly simple procedure, but that is not always the case.

That's why 2nd Lt. John Ouellet III, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air officer in charge of the foreign excess personal property program, is on the job as an integral tool of the FEPP program.

To date, ITAM-Air has transferred more than 200 containers valued at more than $7 million to various Iraqi bases. This has saved the U.S more than $2 million in shipping costs, let alone storage fees and manpower costs.

"We use it as a source of acquisition of property for them," said Lieutenant Ouellet.

The FEPP process identifies excess in the U.S. inventory and transfers the extra assets to the Iraqi military. This helps them build up their air force, providing supplies for things like living quarters and military school when they might not be able to afford it otherwise.

"We save them money on purchase costs," said Lieutenant Ouellet, a native of Los Gatos, Calif.

Once the excess equipment is identified, the inventory is sent through a rigorous approval process involving many different offices and different branches of the military.

"The coordination involved is a big challenge," said Ouellet, who is deployed from the 60th Aerial Port Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. "The FEPP managers screen the list and identify restricted items."

FEPP managers make sure there are no sensitive items, like computers or radio systems, which could compromise U.S. operational security. Once it has been determined there are no restricted items in a container, it can be transferred.

During the final transfer, the items are signed over to the Iraqi military. This provides the items they need and improves international relations, a win-win situation.

"They're extremely grateful. They see it as us building partnership and helping them move further along in their logistics system," said Master Sgt. Alice Steele, 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group superintendant.

Sergeant Steele, who is deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash., recently worked with Lieutenant Ouellet to transfer five crates of equipment worth more than $300,000 to the Iraqi air force at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.

"As we draw down, we are trying to set them up for success," said Sergeant Steele, a native of Norfolk, Va. "I'm happy to be here supporting the Iraqi air force and look forward to building that joint relationship."