FISC Norfolk provides material handling equipment for MACH team in Iraq

Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk assisted in getting much-needed Material Handling Equipment to Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support's Mobile Air Cargo Handling (MACH) team in Iraq.

The MACH team, a highly skilled group of air cargo handling experts, provides critical handling, tracking, and transporting of aviation material for the 2nd Marine Air Wing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The MACH team's MHE was in dire need of replacement, and equipment was identified in the War Reserve Material (WRM) inventory.

"FISC Norfolk manages the WRM and is the forward logistics staging point for WRM assets," FISC Norfolk MHE regional manager Vanessa Kissel said.

FISC Norfolk quickly prepared four 10-ton forklifts from the WRM to fulfill the request for the MACH team. In addition, the heavy-duty forklifts were sent into theater with spare parts kits, which significantly extends the life or usefulness of the MHE overseas, where spare parts are not s "The spare parts kits concept is to provide a basic emergency kit on those end items that are likely to require replacement first," Kissel said. "The value of items in the kit are approximately $3,700."

The request for the material came from NAVELSF with OPNAV approval, Kissel added.

"Once the request for material was received, FISC Norfolk then had 96 hours to ensure equipment was ready for release to the required theater of operations. Preparation includes: engine tune-ups; fluid changes; safety inspections; fuel system drains and refills, engine oil and filter changes; radiator flushes and refills, and new battery installations," Kissel said.

The actual work was performed by FISC contractor personnel from AMSEC LLC (Jack Smithson, Todd Mitchell, Billy Athey, Mike Morgan, and Greg Jeangueant), with management/ coordination and transportation performed by FISC Norfolk MHE Operations, Kissel noted.

The contractors downplayed their role in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "We're just doing our job--happy to help," Athey said.

In order to get the MHE into theater as quickly as possible, it was flown on a C-5 from Norfolk to Al-Asad, where MACH team members happily accepted receipt and began using the material right away.o easy to come by.