NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/soc/veterans/1439

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From: [e-mail] (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
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Subject: Army News 12/30/92
Date: 31 Dec 1992 07:39:13 -0600
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Mogadishu troops relax in recreation center, by Air Force Tech. Sgt.
Scarlette P. Parker

      MOGADISHU, Somalia (ARNEWS) -- United Nations troops stationed
at Mogadishu airport now have a place to relax, enjoy a few comforts
from home and catch up on the news. A recreation center recently
opened next to the chapel.
      "I think it will be a real morale booster for the troops," said
Chap. (1st Lt.) Stephen M. Boilang. Especially as the holidays
approached and passed, lonesome troops needed some recreation, he
said.
      Various items are being donated by airlines, which arrive at
Mogadishu daily. Crews of the DC-10s, 747s and C-5s donate extra soft
drinks, juice, hot meals, newspapers and magazines, Boilang said.
      "As the word spreads among the air crews, we're hoping the
donations will increase," the chaplain said.
      Sparse furnishings thus far include several chairs, some cots
and a table. The airport is one of the few areas in Somalia with
electricity. But the recreation center isn't hooked up yet.
      "Today we managed to find a refrigerator," Boilang said. "Once
the wiring is complete, we can plug it in and have cold drinks."
      Most people in the United States take a nice cold soda for
granted. Here, it's a luxury.
      Eventually, the chaplain hopes to have a TV with VCR and movies,
and a variety of games and books to complete the inventory.
      "We've asked for a number of games and things through the supply
channels," he said. "But we don't know when the items will arrive."
      Until then, servicemembers can get a soda, peanuts or other
goodies not found in their Meals-Ready-to-Eat, by visiting the
recreation center.
      (Parker is assigned to the Operation Restore Hope Joint
Information Bureau in Mogadishu, Somalia.)


Providing basics proves difficult

      MOGADISHU, Somalia (ARNEWS) -- Think about the basics -- food,
water and shelter. Then think about the task of deploying several
thousand U.S. servicemembers to a country where all three are
difficult to find.
      Operation Restore Hope has offered that sort of logistical
challenge to its joint task force.
      "'If you didn't bring it, you ain't got it,'" said Army Col. Sam
Hatton, the JTF's director of logistics, quoting an adage.
      Getting the bare necessities to troops has been difficult for a
variety of reasons.
      "Somalia has very little" of anything, Hatton said. "There's no
railroad system, the road network is difficult, there's no fresh
water, and there's no sewage system.
      "There's no electricity, and there are very few (electric) wires
left," he continued. "The country has pretty well been dismantled of
any kind of infrastructure. When you bring in a force of this size,
you have to start from ground zero."
      One way to begin, he said, is by supplying Meals-Ready-to-Eat to
personnel. The food is easily transported and doesn't require the
factors that go into setting up field kitchens, such as sanitation.
The kitchens, however, are expected to be built by the end of January.
      Distributing water has also been a problem.
      "We've flown in bottled water for drinking," Hatton said. "We're
also producing water in bulk with water purification units. But,
again, you have to have something to transport it in. You have to have
trucks to move the water buffaloes. You have to be able to build your
own infrastructure to support yourself."
      Latrines, thus far, have also been basic. But conditions are
improving with the addition of wooden and portable facilities, Hatton
said.
      The logistical challenges of supporting a multinational force
involve more than just moving supplies to the troops. They involve
communication.
      "One problem is that, with a joint task force, there are
different units. Not everybody does things the same way," said Marine
Cpl. Thomas Hunt, a logistics and embarkation specialist with the JTF.
"I work in administration and, with a lot of computer programs, some
people don't know how to use them."
      But that hasn't caused much of a problem, according to Marine
Sgt. Billy Smith, an assistant to the JTF's contracting officer.
      "I haven't seen any conflicts between the services," Smith said.
"Morale has been pretty good. People who have never been to the field
before are adapting well."
      The addition of "luxury" items should help bolster morale,
Hatton said. Exchange facilities and fresh food are some of the pluses
expected between late January and late February.
      Despite a few rough spots, Hatton said, things are running
smoothly.
      "We've had challenges," he said. "But, considering the
limitations, we've done well. It's going much faster than expected,
but we've been able to support all operations, which is what we're
designed to do.
      "Somalia, as a theater to bring logistics in and to conduct
operations in, proves that if we can do it here, we can do it any
place."
      (Rich is assigned to the Operation Restore Hope Joint
Information Bureau in Mogadishu, Somalia.)


MTMC ships equipment to Somalia

      WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) -- Once again, the Military Traffic
Management Command is loading ships with hundreds of pieces of
equipment and unit supplies. Personnel from MTMC Military Ocean
Terminal Bayonnne, N.J., began loading unit equipment from the 10th
Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Dec. 15, for deployment to
Somalia.
      General-purpose vehicles, trucks and tankers arrived at MOTBY by
rail, while helicopters flew to the port area for loading aboard two
Fast Sealift Ships, the U.S. Navy Ships Pollux and Altair. MTMC
officials said the trip to Somalia should take 15 or 16 days.
      As in Operation Desert Storm, the task is a Total Army effort.
Troops from the Connecticut Army National Guard shrinkwrapped 31
Blackhawks, Cobras and OH-58 helicopters, to protect the aircrafts'
avionics and sensitive electronics from the sea air during the trip.
Logistics support came from soldiers with the U.S. Army Garrison
Bayonne, as well as a Port Support Activity, consisting of soldiers
from Fort Dix, N.J.
      "It hasn't been easy," said Col. Treatifelom S. Teele, MOTBY
commander. "At the height of one of the worst winter storms this
season, our personnel continued to unload trains of equipment arriving
at the port, in winds gusting up to 45 m.p.h.
      "Servicemembers and civilians at MOTBY, the National Guard, and
the other PSA soldiers have really pulled together to make sure that
the 10th Mountain Division's equipment gets loaded and on its way as
quickly as possible," Teele said. "Also, while we were starting the
loadout in Bayonne, MOTBY was simultaneously establishing an MTMC
presence in Newport News, Va., for operations to begin there."
      Bayonne and Newport News aren't the only ports contributing to
Operation Restore Hope. Equipment of combat support units designated
by the U.S. Central Command is also being transported and loaded by
MTMC aboard ships at ports in Savannah, Ga.; Beaumont, Texas; and
Livorno, Italy.


ACOE competitors advance in the tradition of excellence

      WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) -- Teamwork, pride in achievement, and
community spirit add up to the success of this year's finalists in the
Army-wide competition known as Army Communities of Excellence.
      "It was particularly encouraging to see that 21 of the 53
nominees were first-time DA competitors," said Col. Tom White, chief
of the ACOE program for the Army chief of staff.
      Evaluated at the level of major Army command, the finalists had
found the competition quite keen, White said. He identified the
installations by area and category.
      Continental United States --
-- large: Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Fort Benning, Ga.
-- medium: Fort Lee, Va.; and Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
-- small: Red River Army Depot, Texas; and White Sands Missile Range,
N.M.
-- most improved: Fort Meade, Md.; and Fort Knox, Ky.
      Outside the Continental United States --
-- large: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Panama Army Communities of
Excellence, Panama.
-- medium: Karlsruhe (291st BSB), Germany; and Vilseck (281st BSB),
Germany.
-- small: Camp Zuma (17th ASG), Japan; and Grafenwoehr (409th BSB),
Germany.
-- most improved: SHAPE-NATO, Belgium; Camp Pelham, Korea; and Panama
Atlantic Community, Panama.
      Special category: St. Louis Engineer District, Mo.; U.S. Army
Reserve Personnel Center, St. Louis, Mo.,; Sacramento Engineer
District, Calif.; Galveston Engineer District, Texas; and Savannah
Engineer District, Ga.
      As in the past several years, finalists receive monetary awards
for their excellence in providing services, programs and facilities
for their soldiers, civilians and families. The awards are meant to be
invested back into the communities receiving them, White explained.
      He said that the ACOE program's principle is simple: "If you
take care of people by giving them better living and working
conditions, they will have more pride and purpose in what they do.
      "That, in turn, will mean better performance and productivity,
improved recruiting and retention of quality soldiers an civilians.
The end result for the Army is the increased readiness of soldiers,"
White said.
      "The best part of the program is that we all win," he continued.
"ACOE must be a continuing, year-round process if it is to provide the
service and facility excellence our Army people deserve. The
competition is simply a stimulus to help encourage that process."
      This year's awards are slated for presentation at the Pentagon,
May 20.


--

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