JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
When you think anything military, you think of efficiency, speed, power and readiness. At Army Strategic Logistics Activity - Charleston, they exemplify these core traits. With the intent of moving warfighters and their equipment across the world on a moment's notice, ASLAC brings a loaded plate of mission readiness to the table.
ASLAC provides the U.S. warfighter the ability to quickly generate combat power at any location designated by the National Command Authority by establishing, maintaining and reconstituting Army Prepositioned Stocks Afloat.
The APS program consists of supplies and equipment prepositioned on ships and land-based facilities in Europe, Korea and Southwest Asia. The Army's strategy for managing the APS includes two infantry brigade combat teams with wheel augmentation sets, two support brigades and two munitions container ships.
APS afloat is a key component of the Army's strategic mobility triad that includes sealift and airlift. The ability to handoff equipment wherever needed reduces the deployment response time for tactical units conducting critical contingency operations throughout the world.
"We operate with about 59 Army civilian employees, seven Active-Duty Soldiers and over 500 contracted employees," said Robert O'Brien, ASLAC general manager.
According to Gary Daniels, ASLAC Special Projects Officer, ASLAC team members also perform maintenance on Army tactical cargo. When a ship arrives at Wharf Alpha at the Naval Weapons Station, ASLAC oversees the unloading of any cargo that is in need of servicing or replacing. Replacement cargo is prepositioned and ASLAC oversees the cargo loading operations. A typical ship can carry more than 5,500 sets, kits, and outfits that are containerized or loaded on the beds of trucks and trailers.
"We stage the cargo for upload, oversee the cargo upload and perform equipment surveillance and repairs during the 24-30 month afloat period," said Daniels.
Cargo is loaded onto USNS Watson-Class Large, Medium Speed Roll-On, Roll-Off ships. Each ship contains 393,000 square feet of storage space on seven decks and is capable of housing tanks, wheeled vehicles, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, weapons, medical supplies and even Meals Ready to Eat ...everything needed to supply a brigade-sized combat team ordered into action.
"Everything that we do here is completely unique," said Daniels. "We're one of a kind when it comes to our mission and we're proud to do it."