Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search

tasked with standing up a theater Medical Support Optical and Maintenance 
(MEDSOM) unit no later than C+060. We had to work resupply, and work it hard. 
Senior Master Sergeant Tom Brewer aggressively worked the resupply issue and was 
singularly responsible for establishing the SWA Air Force medical resupply 
program. His contacts with USAFE medical logistics personnel meant direct 
ordering by ATHs from Pirmasens Germany. Supplies were pulled for shipment 
quickly, but were delayed by available airlift. The resupply pallets were built 
by TAC and began flowing in. Meanwhile, the Army was working diligently to get 
theater resupply stood up, but experienced immense growing pains -- not the 
fault of the junior NCOs and officers. They were enthusiastic in attempting to 
provide for the theater; a combination of "system" inertia, leadership, and 
start up problems affected a successful outcome for well over 60 days. In 
anticipation of the MEDSOM becoming capable we placed a team of five medical 
logisticians at Dhahran to assist the Army with air cargo movement. Further, 
anticipating MEDSOM inability to support all the theater 3rd echelon hospital 
requirements as they came on line later and to meet our ASF and contingency 
hospital build requirements, we positioned critical supplies in Thumrait later 
in preparation for offensive operations. The short of it was that the Air Force 
took an extremely proactive stance in managing medical resupply. 
 
Senior Master Sergeant Bob Jordan and Technical Sergeant Al Manda made a 
significant contribution by designing and employing a Laptop contingency 
logistics management program for each 
 
18 

Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search