US Military Units In Iraq Pick Up Pace To Turn In Property

By

By Pamela Proper

At the Victory Base Complex in Iraq, a place that is beginning to feel empty, there is one place that is filling up fast, the RPAT yard at Camp Liberty.

The Redistribution Property Assistance Team is working hard for the long haul out of Iraq. Convoy after convoy, container upon container, tactical vehicles and combat equipment get sorted, documented and pushed out as fast as they come in from the forward operating bases around Baghdad.

“Getting units to turn in their equipment was the challenge,” explained 1st. Lt. Michael Saslo, the officer-in-charge of the RPAT. “Until recently, they were hanging on to it. Now, we are getting between 25 and 50 vehicles each day and about 300 to 500 other pieces of equipment daily. So now it’s the velocity of turn-in and pushing it out that is the challenge.”

The team is an assembly of Soldiers from the National Guard, Reserve, active duty and civilians all working under the banner of the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade. It receives and ships out a steady stream of rolling stock (vehicles), and non-rolling stock, which is mostly communication and test equipment, power generators and other combat gear.

The team processes a mountain of paperwork in which every number has to be correct or the item cannot be shipped.

Pfc. Charlie Moore is a supply specialist who tends to the paperwork 12 hours daily, seven days a week.

“I am happy to be here in this job. The work is good. It’s interesting and I get a feeling of accomplishment from helping other Soldiers relieve their property so they can go home,” said Moore.

There are seven RPATs in Iraq. The operation at Victory Base Complex is the largest by a wide margin, averaging about 327 vehicle turn-ins and 10,000 other items weekly. And, in the coming weeks this pace is expected to be the norm.

DoD News

DoD News publishes news from the US Defense Department.

2 thoughts on “US Military Units In Iraq Pick Up Pace To Turn In Property

  • October 21, 2011 at 2:39 pm
    Permalink

    Is it ALL beeing shipped back to the USA?

    Reply
  • October 22, 2011 at 9:24 pm
    Permalink

    It’s also a challenge not to remember who now owns the deeds to the property in Iraq…this reminds me of the historical push west from the east in the uS…that naturally is politically acceptable even when it ended in death resulted a for sale sign and right in front of the buyers.
    As for the military…they have been followed with a magnafying glass while the weekend warriors disappeared from sight making their summer runs accross the uS in convoys.
    The 50 dollar each 10-32-.25inch made from a secret alloy type of screw supply depot returned too…along with the federally funded space ports that turned private right in front of your eyes. Magic! LOL Have a good day.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *