ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait -- Rows of power drills are stacked in wooden shelves and organized. Piles of air conditioning units are hoisted by loud forklifts in the backyard. Airmen work at their desks in a confined office space, nestled in a corner away from where customers come to check items out.
There are many ways the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s self-help store, known here as “U Fix It,” stays busy. Largely, it’s because it’s the only place like it on the installation.
“A lot of the items needed by our craftsmen aren’t available through the base supply system,” said Master Sgt. Brian Encarnacion, 386th ECES material control NCO-in-charge. “This is where we come in.”
U-Fix-It provides material and supply options for anyone in need of supplies that range from power production and electrical to heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and more. The shop provides customers and facility manager’s the tools to carry out mission-enhancing projects or do-it-yourself repairs. Craftsmen work with the unit resource advisor, talk to outside vendors and submit all requirements gathered to the contracting officer for approval through finance.
“As far as U-Fix-It, taking us away would create a higher workload for the craftsmen,” Encarnacion said. “Not only does a craftsman have to worry about a facility with no power, they now have to incorporate some dorm rooms that have some lightbulb outages.”
Outside of necessity-based requirements, Airmen have used the store for do-it-yourself projects. In a few of these instances, customers’ ideas have been brought to life using supplies from U-Fix-It , creating something useful for service members at AASAB.
“I’ve seen people check out equipment and make decks and chairs for their living quarters,” said Senior Airman Patrick Lonski, 386th ECES material control journeyman. “It’s nice to see the benefits of people visiting us.”
For more information on the U-Fix-It shop, call 442-2929.