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Reducing vehicle fleet while minimizing military footprint

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Scott Saldukas
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq --  While the drawdown of servicemembers from Iraq is still in its beginning phases, the Airmen of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group at Ali Base, Iraq, are taking the initiative to prepare for a smooth transition.

The group, which has more than 600 Airmen, has decided to reduce their general purpose vehicle fleet with the means of making the mission easier for the Airmen here during the final rotations while maintaining full mission capabilities. Beginning the process of turning in extra and unnecessary vehicles now will prevent a back up when it comes time to transport them to their next destination.

"As we transition from combat operations to advise and assist operations, it is imperative that we take all appropriate measures to reduce our footprint, while still maintaining full operational and support capability," said Colonel Dennis Hunsicker, 407th AEG deputy commander. "This ultimately supports both Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Air Force Central command while enabling us to redirect assets where needed."

Since the mission has changed we believe that there are currently more general purpose vehicles than required for mission accomplishment, said the deputy commander. Currently, the vehicle allocation amounts to one vehicle assigned for every two people.

"Vehicle Authorization Listings (VAL) are validated by AFCENT after input from deployed commanders. Many variables affect the VAL such as base size, mission and environment," said Colonel Hunsicker who hails from Norristown, Penn.

The vehicle management section is able to assist the squadron VCOs in deciding which vehicle authorizations should change, add or delete, said Captain Todd Morin who is the Director of Operations for the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. A Vehicle Fleet Manager ensures the vehicle fleet meets the needs of the 407th AEG mission and complies with Air Force and Major Command Vehicle Management policy.

"Though no number has been set to be reduced too, each commander is expected to make recommendations based on mission factors, not convenience of personnel," said Colonel Hunsicker. "Again, the goal is to maintain full operational and mission support capability."

According to Captain Morin, after deciding which vehicles will be turned in, each vehicle will be inspected using a Vehicle Technical Inspection with the results being sent to AFCENT where they will then decide to repair and ship, ship as is or turn into the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS).

"As time draws closer to handing over the base and our footprint decreases, we will help those left with the drawdown of vehicles," said Captain Morin who is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. "Inspecting, prepping and shipping vehicles is not a quick process. It may take weeks to get a vehicle out, so the fewer vehicles we have here to ship, the easier it will be on the last rotation to pull chalks and leave."

Although it may seem like an inconvenience downsizing the fleet now, many of these small changes will make a big difference for the last Airmen here.

"Downsizing the vehicle fleet is a necessary step for a responsible drawdown of our Air
Force presence here on Ali Base," said Senior Airman Tony Ritter, 407th AEG staff vehicle control officer. "Having fewer vehicles at our disposal certainly means we'll each have to plan our agendas accordingly, allowing more time in-transit or carpooling.
However, in the broad scope of things, these minor adjustments that we're being asked to make are going to make a big impact on the future rotations that are responsible for turning the lights off here."

Colonel Hunsicker also noted that as the Air Force prepares to responsibly drawdown in Iraq, our personnel should be proud that they were part of an effort to establish democracy in this country, provide security to establish an effective government and turn over operations to our Iraqi partners.