Smooth operators

By WGCDR Bob Rodgers
Volume 48, No. 11, June 29, 2006

WOFF Warren Ritchie and SGT Glenn Dickson beside the mural of the Logistics Support Flight for the C-130 detachment in the Middle East.

Photo by WGCDR Bob Rodgers.

THE C-130 detachment deployed to the Middle East is meeting all the usual challenges and a few unusual ones as it keeps operations running smoothly.

OIC of Logistic Support Flight, WOFF Warren Ritchie, and two other members of the support staff, SGT Glenn Dickson and SGT Tania Johnson, took time out from their busy routines to share their experiences.

“We focus on getting best value for money, often made more complicated by language barriers and the locals being unfamiliar with things we take for granted,” SGT Dickson said.

“We provide all the procurement, receipting and dispatching of equipment for the Task Group,” WOFF Ritchie added. “We do all the normal things a Logistics Support Flight would do at home except there are fewer of us.

“We also have all the governance obligations that exist back home such as stocktaking in the warehouse and the best value for money requirements. We manage the supply customer accounts which involves us in all aspects of the Task Group’s business.

“We work hard and it’s particularly busy during rotations but the team feels like it’s part of something bigger. When you look around here at all the Coalition equipment … it is big. Morale is good.

“The SNCO’s make a real point of ensuring everyone understands how we fit into everything going on here and the flying detachment’s operations.”

Newcomers are made to feel welcome and the induction program is very effective, SGT Johnson said.
“It helps you understand the environment and, I must say, the transition into the Task Group has been pretty much as I had expected.”

As SGT Dickson pointed out, “We are particular in ensuring that new staff have the time to familiarise themselves with the unit, their job and the climate. The heat and dust is part of every day here; you get used to it.”
Talking about the advantages or disadvantages of three-month or six-month rotations, SGT Dickson preferred the longer deployment.

“Six months is much better; you can really dig into the job,” he said. “In three months you’re just starting to roll and it’s time to go.”

WOFF Ritchie added, “Moving to the longer deployments, we should start to get better outcomes. The staggers and short deployments are very disruptive and you feel like you are forever training up new staff rather than focusing on doing things better.

“You have to come with an open mind. It is different to back home and you have to be really flexible – adapt to the environment. The heat and wind storms can be a shock to newcomers and the worst of the season is yet to come.”

“This is hard work and if your attitude is not right you won’t enjoy it here and you won’t fit in,” SGT Dickson said. “This is an amazing experience, a real eye-opener.”

The Task group comprises 125 Air Force personnel, with some out-posted air load teams at major airfields in theatre. The Task Group supports a 37SQN detachment of two C-130Js and maintainers and aircrew, and recently passed 8000 hours in support of Operations Catalyst and Slipper.

 

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