JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
When an aircraft breaks, the parts to repair it don’t just appear, nor do military members have all of their deployment gear at their feet ready to go. It is up to materiel management to ensure these items are stored, accounted for and distributed.
The 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron Materiel Management Flight provides joint customer support and management of materiel to optimize wartime readiness globally.
“If it isn’t medical equipment or computers, it comes through us,” said Capt. Christie Taylor, 628th LRS Materiel Management Flight commander. “Our two main departments within materiel management are the individual protective equipment section and the aircraft parts store.”
IPE is responsible for storing and providing tactical equipment, gas masks, weapons and deployment bags. ACPS stores and distributes the parts necessary to maintain the Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster III fleet.
“IPE is going to look at an individual’s reporting instructions to determine exactly what the person needs before issuing the items,” said Taylor. “The same goes for ACPS, looking at what is being requested and ensuring the parts are distributed properly.”
Members of the 628th LRS Materiel Management Flight work with the 635th Supply Chain Operations Group at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to anticipate what equipment needs to be stocked based on the usage and number of people and aircraft on station.
“Accountability and quality are essential when we do our job,” said Senior Master Sgt. Julie Frydrych, 628th LRS Materiel Management Flight superintendent. “When we provide a product, it is on time, the right resource and it works the way it’s intended. That is why it is important we have the inventory and central storage sections to manage and account for the parts and equipment within IPE and ACPS.”
Bases are able to request parts from other installations when unexpected needs arise. The 635th SCOG will reach out to other bases to locate the part and provide it to the installation in need.
“I cannot stress how important accountability is for our job,” said Frydrych. “If an Airman goes out and miscounts inventory, there’s no part to pull when an aircraft needs to be repaired. The aircraft can’t perform its mission because one person couldn’t do their job.”
Keeping accurate accountability ensures the flight is doing its job effectively and the rest of the base is properly equipped with the items they need.
“People across base cannot do their mission without our influence. Aircraft don’t take off, people don’t deploy and jobs aren’t completed.” said Taylor. “We literally touch the base’s day-to-day job, the ‘big’ Air Force missions and anyone going down range in some way, shape or form.”