JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

A crane lowers a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle onto the bed of a semi truck at Camp Liberty, Iraq on Feb. 27, 2009. The MRAP will be prepared for a tractor-trailer convoy transport. One of the things the redistribution property assistant team does is being able to issue military vehicles out to the Army for either combat or support operations. The personnel at the yard have been able to process more than $1 billion worth of equipment during their six month deployment. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)

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JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

An Iraqi contractor makes sure the chains are connected to the semi truck so that he can prep the mine resistant ambush protected vehicle at Camp Liberty, Iraq on Feb. 27, 2009. The MRAP is being secured onto the bed of the truck so that it can be transported in a convoy. One of the redistribution property assistance team’s primary duties is to issue military vehicles out to the Army for either combat or support. The personnel at the yard have been able to more than $1 billion worth of equipment in their six month deployments. (US Air Force Photo By: Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)

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JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

Staff Sgt. Chayla Gooch, 732nd Expeditionary Logistical Readiness Squadron, 586th Task Force, marks the armored security vehicle ensuring the right vehicles get picked up for transport at Camp Liberty, Iraq on Feb. 27, 2009. This vehicle is a part of a convoy going to Kuwait with approximately 30 semi trucks loaded with all types of military vehicles. Sergeant Gooch is a Joint Expeditionary Taking airman who is an Air Force member tasked for army jobs. The personnel at the yard have processed more than a billion dollars of inventory for the Army through their six month deployment. Sergeant Gooch is a native of Marksville, La., and is deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va. (US Air Force Photo By: Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)

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JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

An armored security vehicle drives onto the bed of a semi truck at Camp Liberty, Iraq on Feb. 27, 2009. One of the things the redistribution property assistance team yard does is being able to issue military vehicles out to the Army for either combat or support operations. The personnel at the yard have been able to more than $1 billion worth of equipment in their six month deployments. (US Air Force Photo By: Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)

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JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

An Army Soldier leads the armored security vehicle and drives onto the bed of a semi truck at Camp Liberty, Iraq on Feb. 27, 2009. One of the redistribution property assistance team’s primary duties is to issue military vehicles out to the Army for either combat operations or transport. The personnel at the yard have been able to more than $1 billion worth of equipment in their six month deployments. (US Air Force Photo By: Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)

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JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

The military vehicles are on the semi trucks, locked down, and ready for their twelve hour trip to Kuwait at Camp Liberty, lraq on Feb. 27, 2009. The redistribution property assistance team is where the Army resources are distributed for either combat or support operations. The team consists of Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airmen which fill Army requirements. One of the redistribution property assistant’s team’s primary duties is to issue military vehicles out to the Army for either combat or support operations. The personnel at the yard have been able to process more than $1 billion worth of equipment in their six month deployments. (US Air Force Photo By: Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)

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JET Airmen process more than a billion dollars worth of vehicles, equipment

Published March 10, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airmen from 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron are filling roles in the Army's 586th Task Force and are doing a great job; processing more than $1 billion worth of vehicles during their tenure here.

The vehicles these Redistribution Property Assistance Team members process range in everything from HUMVEEs and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to tanks and other armored security vehicles.

"We have the convoys come in and what we do is down load them and take them off and inspect them and make sure the vehicles are clean of trash, brass and hazardous chemicals," said Tech. Sgt. John Mumford, 732nd ELRS member.

The RPAT vehicle yard at Liberty serves as the focal point for all incoming vehicles throughout Iraq.

"We are basically in charge issuing the vehicles and shipping them throughout the country and surrounding regions," said Staff Sgt. Andre Scott, 732nd ELRS member. Sergeant Scott is deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va., and is a native of Marion, S.C.

For most vehicles, the Liberty yard isn't the last stop before being sent back downrange.

"We inspect them (vehicles) and make sure they are free of any hazards and afterward the vehicles will go to Kuwait for refurbishment, so when they do go back to the front lines they (ground troops) aren't getting a piece of junk," said Sergeant Mumford, who is a vehicle maintainer from Scott AFB, Ill., and native of Alpena, Mich.

Some vehicles, sent to Camp Taji, Iraq, where they will be used by the Iraqi military, must first be stripped of all communication equipment for security purposes before being used by the Iraqis.

Mr. Dan Shrock, a contractor from ManTech who works in the yard, said they have saved the government approximately $280 million on all the communication equipment they have salvaged from the vehicles alone.

Capt. Shaenan Jett 732nd ELRS member, said the best experience he and his team have had as JET Airmen is helping move equipment so Army personnel can redeploy, move to Afghanistan or just getting Army assets to the war fighters who need it.

"The experience of being a JET airman is something people should try at least once in their life," said the Andrews AFB, Md., member and Lacey, Wash., native. "I think it would open a lot of people's eyes. It's something that the Air Force doesn't do day-to-day. I have a medical admin who got to drive a tank ... I mean that doesn't happen every day in the Air Force."