First Sergeant Recycles $250K in OCP Uniforms for Bagram Airmen

Published July 9, 2012
By Capt. Raymond Geoffroy
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN -- Every U.S. Air Force First Sergeant is responsible for making sure their Airmen's uniforms are in good order, but here at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, one First Sergeant has taken this charge a step further by offering Airmen the most effective uniform available to conduct their mission.

MSgt Nicholas Kollett, First Sergeant for the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, developed and manages a base-wide program which provides Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern uniforms to Airmen who have yet to receive the specialized outfits.

The uniform, commonly called OCP's, has become the iconic attire of coalition forces in Afghanistan for many reasons. They are lightweight, flame retardant, and well suited to blend with Afghanistan's terrain, which is why the U.S. Air Force this year made OCP's the official uniform of Airmen deployed to Afghanistan.

However, when the change took effect the approximately 7,800 Airmen already in Afghanistan didn't have access to the uniforms. When Kollett, a native of Peabody MA, arrived at Bagram in April, he noted that the majority of 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group Airmen still wore Airman Battle Uniforms.

"Many Airmen were in place when the mandatory OCP wear policy was implemented. They were disappointed to not have the uniform that everyone else had. The ABU is a lot warmer than the OCP's and isn't flame retardant," Kollett explained.

Seeking a solution to this problem, Kollett set out looking for a way to acquire OCPs for Airmen. It wasn't long before he discovered a steady source of the uniforms.
"I found out that the Army was taking their old uniforms to be destroyed. I saw this as a big waste of money that could be an opportunity to put Airmen into safer and more comfortable uniforms," said Kollett.

Networking with the Army units responsible for clearing uniforms out of Bagram's amnesty bins, Kollett started collecting the used OCP's to give them new life.
"I originally received the uniforms and put them on a table in our work center for everyone to sort through," said Kollett. "For a while, we had a lot of uniforms sitting around. I then decided to put them on shelves and organized them by size to make it faster for Airmen to get the uniforms that they were looking for."

And with that, Bagram's "OCP Store" was born. To date, the store has reissued over 1,000 OCP uniform sets, valued at over $250,000, to BAF Airmen at no cost, providing comfort from arid temperatures and facilitating a safer working environment.

The program was well received by the Airmen who were quick to express their appreciation for the unique service.

"It was a huge morale boost having (Kollett) help us get into OCP uniforms. It makes a big difference being in the correct and more comfortable uniforms," said SSgt Dennis Arias, Munitions Systems Specialist with the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron.

"MSgt Kollett has done incredible work for our team. He has directly impacted operations by providing more practical uniforms that are functional for this environment," said Lt. Col. Rudy Cardona, 455th EAMXS commander.

For Kollett, the greatest satisfaction comes from making Bagram Airmen's lives a little more conformable and safer.

"Taking care of Airmen is something that has always brought me a lot of joy," said Kollett. "I received many thanks from Airmen, but I didn't do this to receive thanks; I did it to take care of the Airmen."

Kollett will soon be departing Afghanistan but he can do so knowing he made a positive impact for his Airmen and all of Bagram Airfield.

"It's all about helping the Airmen. Putting them in a uniform that is proven to be safer in combat keeps our Airmen safer and is a huge morale booster. I love seeing Airmen happy and fulfilling their needs," Kollett said.