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Logistics Readiness keeps KAF truckin’

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Taylor
  • 451st Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Vehicle operations and vehicle maintenance are the backbone to establishing a new base of operations in a deployed environment, especially if you don't want to find yourself walking anytime soon.

Transporting supplies to designated areas, providing operators for vehicles and technicians to repair and maintain them in good working condition are essential roles the 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron has provided since being established at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

The 451st ELRS shop is split into two sections; Vehicle Operations and vehicle maintenance. Vehicle Operations handles driving the vehicles and standard maintenance, while the maintenance shop handles the analysis and repairing of the vehicles.

"We are the sole controllers for more than 380 vehicles and more than $85 million worth of assets," said Tech. Sergeant Alvin Harris, 451st ELRS non-commissioned officer in charge of vehicle management and analysis.

"As the NCOIC of vehicle management, my office is responsible for everything from acquisitioning, distribution, assigning work orders for repair and all paperwork dealing with vehicles," said Sergeant Harris.

Vehicle Operations stood up March 26 with only four operators; since then, they have moved 14,552,983 pounds of cargo over 6,000 miles.

"Seventy-five percent of our workload is heavy equipment, but we also handle wrecker recovery, transient aircrew, PAX movements, cargo movements, U-drive-it service and distinguished visitor service," said Senior Airman Jake Fischer, 451st ELRS vehicle operator. ERLS has also supported various units such as the 129th, 755th, 772nd and other various coalition forces stationed here.

Vehicle Maintenance shop is just as accomplished as its other half; taking 26 line-item vehicles and reducing the list to only six in less than a month.

"The mechanics are the bread and butter of the operation; they have hands on with the vehicles and make sure they get out of the shop in working condition in a timely manner," said Senior
Airman Craig Bogl, 451st ELRS vehicle operator.

With so many vehicles, maintaining repairs, keeping accountability and ordering replacement parts on a large fleet can seem like a daunting task, but with dedication and long hours, the 451st ELRS has maintained a good handle on the issue.

"When a vehicle is brought to us we don't just repair the problem at hand; we do a full sweep and check for multiple issues," said Senior Airman Jared Lucci, a vehicle maintenance technician here.

Aside from daily maintenance and accountability issues, the vehicle maintenance shop also orders replacement parts. They have cut the time of vehicle repairs by several days from in-shop fabrication.

"If we can fabricate a part in-shop to repair a disabled vehicle rather than ordering a replacement, paying money and waiting a few weeks, we'll take the few hours it takes to hand craft the part instead," said Master Sgt. Douglas Cameron, 451st ELRS vehicle superintendant.

Vehicle operation and maintenance is all about getting the supplies and manpower to the right locations, repairing those government owned vehicles and getting them back to the customers so the mission may continue. Without transportation for troops and supplies, establishing bases and deployed locations would find themselves on a dirt road with their thumbs up hoping for a ride.

"There's no smoke or mirrors when it comes to vehicle maintenance and completing the mission, only hard work and dedication," said Sergeant Cameron.