Log Barn makes U.S. Special Forces mission possible

Ravage

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http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2011/April/110420-01.html

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (Courtesy of CJFSOTF-A MOC, April 20, 2011) – United States Special Forces Operational Detachments Alpha operate in some of the most remote locations of Afghanistan. The narrow valleys and mountaintops make constant access to these locations extremely difficult.

Despite the rough terrain SF ODAs require constant resupply of the basics such as ammo, food, water and clothing. The Logistics Barn, referred to as the Log Barn for short, out of Camp Montrond, Bagram Airfield, keep the supplies rolling in so that operations can continue.

“Without the Log Barn the ODAs mission will ultimately fail,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan Edwards, the service detachment non-commissioned officer in charge for Headquarters Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. “Everything they need or want comes through the Log Barn.”

Over the past year the Log Barn has moved approximately nine million pounds of supplies and equipment to the ODAs operating in forward locations throughout Special Operations Task Force – East. Approximately half million to a million pounds are shipped each month.

First, the request for supplies or equipment is sent up to the supply sergeant on Camp Montrond by the USSF Soldiers on the ground in dozens of locations within the eastern and northern provinces. The supply sergeant then requisitions the items from the proper channels, either locally or from back in the states. Lastly, the supplies are then packaged and shipped out to their ultimate destination by the Log Barn.

Supplies are moved by either ground or air out of Bagram Airfield depending on what is being moved and how difficult it is to reach the destination.

“The preferred method is always by ground,” said Edwards.

The typical convoy employs local truckers to move the items to their destination in what the Soldiers stationed in Afghanistan affectionately refer to as “jingle trucks,” due to the grandiose and colorful decorations that adorn them.

However, some items require an armed escort to make sure they arrive at their destination safely; in these occasions the Log Barn employs the Tactical Fleet Logistical Escort of which Edwards is a member.

“When the ODA can’t come and pick the item up, the TACFLE will bring it to them,” said Edwards.

Through the Log Barn, USSF have a reliable and capable means of getting their need for basic supplies fulfilled, however not every request is as mundane as beans and bullets. A special request for items like a barbecue grill and steaks keeps morale high and improves the quality of life at the sites where amenities are minimal, if not non-existent.

“No request is unusual or impossible to us,” said Edwards. “With the high level of training and responsibility that the ODAs have, whatever they want [if validated] , they deserve it and they will get it.”

391694_TN.jpg
A C-130 Hercules airdrops supplies into Forward Operating Base Todd, Bala Murghab district, Badghis province, Afghanistan, April 14. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Zimmerman, CJFSOTF-MOC)
 
Its the men who make Special Forces missions possible, not the Log Barn; I assure you.

While the Log Barn serves a purpose, it is nothing which should be, IMNSHO, considered news or worthy of praise for that matter...but that's just me.

Next thing ya know there will be a story "S1 makes US Special Forces missions possible" by assuring soldiers get paid on time thus alleviating the worry associated with "no pay due" notices allowing them to concentrate on the ridiculous reporting requirements... :rolleyes:
 
Its the men who make Special Forces missions possible, not the Log Barn; I assure you.

While the Log Barn serves a purpose, it is nothing which should be, IMNSHO, considered news or worthy of praise for that matter...but that's just me.

Next thing ya know there will be a story "S1 makes US Special Forces missions possible" by assuring soldiers get paid on time thus alleviating the worry associated with "no pay due" notices allowing them to concentrate on the ridiculous reporting requirements... :rolleyes:

1st-Probably a slow week; so they needed a story an this was easy.
2nd- Story says anything is GTG (if validated). I take the 'if valadated" statement to mean three levels of officers have to approve any "non-standard" request?
 
1st-Probably a slow week; so they needed a story an this was easy.
2nd- Story says anything is GTG (if validated). I take the 'if valadated" statement to mean three levels of officers have to approve any "non-standard" request?

If there is no news to report (slow week) then there is NSTR.

"If validated" means the approving authority decides if the ODA needs what is being requisitioned based on "their" experience(s) or whether they can sift a few of item "X" off the order to plus up the G/BSCs need to have whiz bang gear. Or at least that has been my "experience;" OEMV...

Crip
 
At the risk of drawing fire, this is typical Service Det chest thumping. You'd think that the BSC was nothing more than the Service Det and a few orphans from other MOS'.

LOL, back in 2005 my guys would take small boxes of fruit and cereal to some ODAs because the loggies couldn't find a way to place resupply on the ring flights; we did that as a favor to one of the LNOs. Where is your Log Barn now?

The Service Det....LOL
 
No Rav, it's highlighting that all SF do when they're deployed is sit around BBQing :D
 
Personally, I 'liked' this thread because I appreciate the time Ravage spends on posting all these news bits (in general). That being said, I agree that the actual news story isn't terribly interesting.
 
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