CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait –
When Soldiers deploy there are several preparations that are essential in ensuring a successful transition. Especially when it comes to getting the equipment they need.
For the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team this means drawing equipment from the Army Prepositioned Stock located nearby.
APS is a program that consists of prepositioned sets of equipment in different places in the world so military units can fall-in on what they need to help speed response time for a deploying unit and save on cost.
“There are currently five sets of pre-positioned stock that are either land or sea based throughout the world,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Strickland, the brigade property book officer for the 155th ABCT.
The process of the APS draw must start in the early stages of planning to make sure everything is in order.
“We (the 155) began our initial planning in September 2017 with a visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait,” said Strickland.
“I think drawing APS-5 versus shipping our own equipment is better,” said Sgt. Christopher Holliday, a multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer, with Company C, 150th Engineer Battalion.
The program is designed to save money and considering that the unit is receiving fairly-new equipment it helps to prevent further maintenance problems with the vehicles, said Holliday.
At the APS site, equipment is checked and maintained to ensure it will be ready at a moment’s notice.
The brigade began its transition into country throughout the month of June 2018 and have started to inventory and inspect the equipment before issuing it out to the battalions.
“Once the inventory begins, units will conduct a component level inventory for each end item,” said Strickland. “They will then PMCS (preventive maintenance checks and services) the equipment.”
“The progress of inspecting the vehicles and loading them is moving fairly quickly,” said Holliday. “It takes us collectively as a brigade, to sign for the equipment, inventory it and move to other locations, a little over three days.”
As the 155th ABCT continues to draw their equipment they increase readiness for a successful deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield.