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Airmen help facilitate Marine customs operation at Manas

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- --  A Marine detachment at Manas held a ribbon-cutting ceremony here Nov. 6 to celebrate the newly constructed Marine Customs Processing Center at the Transit Center.

The project, consisting of two tents, an administrative office and a processing center, was constructed by the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron contractors.

"Without this building that the 376th ECES personnel skillfully built for us, we would not be able to do our mission at Manas." said Lt. Cmdr. Orlando Olmo, Officer in Charge, Marine Coordinate Element - Manas.

Commander Olmo, who also oversees the Marines' customs operation at Manas, said the Airmen's help is very helpful, and it has enhanced the Marines detachment's mission at the Transit Center.

"By helping us put these two tents together, the Airmen have allowed us to begin our mission at Manas," He said. "Our kudos go to the Airmen at the Transit Center."

When the tents were fully constructed, the Marine customs team immediately began operations. The very next day following the ceremony, they processed more than 100 Marines transiting out of the area of responsibility.

According to Commander Olmo, the new facilities have the capacity to process approximately 10,000 Marines within a 90- day period.

According to the commander, Manas was selected as a good location for the Marines Customs Processing Center because it is a strategic location; the last point going out of the theater before heading home.

"When we process every Marine going back home here, we maintain the integrity of their baggage because after our inspection no one else checks or tampers with the baggage until they get home. Our goal here is to have every passenger going home fully screened and taken care of, the best way possible," he added.

Commander Olmo thanked Airmen for their efforts and support during the project.

"On a regular basis, we communicate with Airmen at the Transit Center and they support our ops in many ways," Commander Olmo said. "Here at Manas, we are one team. Though we belong to two services, we work as one team."