Bruins said her goals for the logistics team are to make the mission better and to strive for the best customer service at Bagram.
With each moving part of her squadron, Bruin noted her team continuously finds ways to make the practices, policies and quality of life better for the Airmen on base.
“Logisticians have no internal mission other than taking care of the customers,” Bruins said. “As a part of the mission support group, our entire mission is support, so we find a way give the best support we possibly can.”
Staff Sgt. Raymond Ramirez, 455th ELRS command executive assistant, began supporting the mission at Bagram long before he deployed there.
As a member of the 20th LRS transportation management office at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Ramirez readied the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s F-16 Fighting Falcons for a deployment to Bagram in October 2017.
“Being stationed at Shaw, a lot of our stuff gets shipped out here,” Ramirez said. “When our F-16s were sent out here, I helped get all their cargo palletized and loaded onto a C-17 [Globemaster III].”
Logisticians are essential at home and overseas. To keep up with the demand for their skillsets, the squadron depends on support from civilian contractors, who account for the majority of ELRS personnel.
“We don’t delineate between active duty and contractors, they are a part of the family,” Bruins said. “They do the mission so that we don’t have to deploy as often. I feel like without them, we wouldn’t be able to do the mission that we are able to do. I am very grateful for their service.”
Working hand-in-hand, each facet of the logistics mission folds together to ensure operations run smoothly and effectively throughout the base.
Bruins said she couldn’t be more proud of her team and all they have accomplished during her time in command.
“To get to see Airmen come here, learn the job, find new and better ways to do things and grow, is the best job in the world,” Bruins said. I would do it a million times if they let me.”