- Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan
16 March 2010
A team of 10 Defence Force personnel is proving to be the epitome of tri-service cooperation in an Afghanistan-based deployment that often passes unnoticed.
The Bagram-based group of Kiwis is New Zealand’s National Service Element (NSE), and lives on a stark and sprawling airforce base that is also home to about 32,000 coalition force soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians from throughout the world.
As the Officer Commanding of the NSE, Major Rik Anderson puts it, “We’re here to support the Kiwis in Afghanistan any way we can.” The NSE, which is on its fifteenth rotation, is the logistics hub responsible for all logistical support to New Zealand personnel posted to Afghanistan.
“Providing logistical support in this country is challenging,” says Major Anderson, “but we’re determined to improve processes, speed up the logistics pipe, and like all Kiwi NSE teams, leave Kiwi Lines better than we received it.
“To that end we have extended the deck area, re-arranged the accommodation area, completely rewired Kiwi Lines, (thanks to tradesmen from the Provincial Reconstruction Team), and added two new 40 foot containers and an armoury. NSE can now manage more effectively the increased freight and mail that comes with the growing NZ military personnel numbers within Afghanistan.”
The team has recently had its first snowfall, but the cold weather has not stopped the Kiwis doing what Kiwis overseas always seem to do – make themselves known to the neighbours, and have their presence felt. “Our coalition partners have in return been more than helpful, also introducing us to an array of specialist military equipment that makes life on operations safer and far more effective.
“But after four and a half months away from home, all of us at NSE Bagram miss our families and friends at home, and can’t wait to return to New Zealand.”
LAC Kevin Kengen, RNZAF
“I am the Communications and Information Systems Technician (CISTECH) for the NSE at Bagram. I look after the computers, networking equipment and satellite systems to allow the logistics staff here, and staff at the minor missions, to carry out their jobs. I also look after the NSE’s personal and vehicle mounted radio equipment and organise the repair of New Zealand units’ radios in theatre. My job involves liaising with several American units on the air base to ensure interoperability between New Zealand and Coalition Forces. And last, but not least, and certainly most important from some people’s point of view, would be looking after the satellite television and internet for us to keep in touch with family and friends back home and watch the rugby.”
Chief Petty Officer John Holding, RNZN
“I am employed here as the Senior Supplier, with a team of two junior suppliers, looking after all the logistical needs for our PRT in the Bamyan province and other NZDF personnel scattered around Afghanistan. My job requires a close working relationship with the US Army and the many civilian organisations that are involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. The position I currently fill has many challenges that I have had to overcome, requires long hours but also has allowed me to travel around many of the different provinces in Afghanistan. As we are midway through our deployment it has been very satisfying looking back at what we began with and what we have managed to achieve, both individually, as a team of suppliers and as a whole unit.”
Captain Kate Ricketts, NZ Army
“I am the second in charge of the NSE, with a team of eight other NZDF personnel arranging and monitoring the logistic support for the NZ troops here in Afghanistan. We support all our elements here in theatre; the team up the hill at the PRT in Bamyan, our other lads in Kabul and the little minor missions scattered in between.
My job revolves mainly around relationship building and management. The NZDF footprint in theatre is tiny in comparison to our allies, and much of our support is based on goodwill from our coalition partners. I find that a smile and a cheerful hello can open many doors here, so I spend quite a bit of my time visiting people and doing exactly that.
Bagram is a strange place. The majority of the 30,000 Americans living here don’t ever leave the base… something that I find quite difficult to understand, particularly given that the Kiwis based elsewhere in the country seem to do nothing else but get out and interact with the locals. As I write this, I am up at the PRT in Bamyan going through the American loan equipment held up here but signed over to me (a slightly concerning thought as it’s literally millions of dollars worth) confirming that the serial numbers all match up — mind-numbing, but someone’s gotta do it, and it’s a nice break from Bagram! All in all, I love my job here and am having a brilliant time. It seems surreal that we’re well over half way through and are starting to plan going home.”
Corporal Samantha Geary, NZ Army
“Kia Ora and Salaam Alaykum (peace be upon you)”
I am deployed as the New Zealand National Support Element Movements NCO at Bagram Air Field. My job is to co-ordinate all the passengers, mail and freight to and from the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team up in Bamyan on civilian air craft owned and operated by American companies. I also send mail out to the minor missions and organise bookings to wherever the soldiers need to go within Afghanistan. It is a lot of fun because I get to network with a whole range of people and see many types of aircraft on the flight line.”
Corporal Eddie Louth, NZ Army
“Do you want to go to Darwin or Afghanistan Corporal?” the OC asked me. I replied that I thought the answer would be obvious, Sir. So eight months later, following pre-deployment training and four months of operational duty, I am here at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan working as a Supply Technician for the NZ National Support Element. My job here revolves around supporting the NZ PRT based in Bamian province and at the same time providing support to the minor missions scattered around the rest of Afghanistan. We, (myself and the other two suppliers) spend a large amount of time liaising with the different American units and contractors to keep the supply chain flowing smoothly. It has proved amazing what can be arranged or sorted out if you take the time to chat and swap some chewing gum and just be friendly. The complexity of the American systems of supply can be daunting at times, however, the Kiwi accent and an invitation to a barbeque can open all sorts of doors. The work here is varied and always something different is going on. An average day can involve getting documentation from the Force Protection unit to allow a vehicle onto the base, followed by the physical escort of that vehicle to a loading area. Then the vehicle has to be loaded, the paperwork completed, the container sealed and the vehicle escorted back to the gates. The next day could be spent checking and restacking ammunition in preparation for a helicopter move. The third day could then involve a safehand task to some far-flung corner of the country. So you don’t get bored. The Americans take their work seriously, but also have perfected the art of hanging out and enjoying themselves here. I did not believe there would be a Pizza Hut or the capacity to learn country dancing here. I have found that a deployment here can be thoroughly enjoyable and am currently having the time of my life.”
Sergeant Stacey Holvey, RNZAF
“I am the NSE Administration Finance SNCO, and this is my second deployment as part of an NSE. My job in Bagram includes the day to day administration of all the personnel deployed to the Middle East (excluding the NZ PRT in Bamyan); administering all finance matters; and processing mail both around theatre, into theatre from home, and back to New Zealand. I have been fortunate to travel away from base frequently and see a great deal of the region surrounding Bagram and Kabul. I have enjoyed my experiences in Afghanistan so far, and after a lot of mild weather we recently had snow so it actually felt like an Afghanistan winter. All that said it will be great to eventually get back to New Zealand.”
Warrant Officer Class One Mark Taylor, NZ Army
“I am the Movements Warrant Officer for the NZ NSE at Bagram. My primary role is to coordinate all freight and personnel movements into, out of and within the Afghanistan area of operations for all NZ Defence forces operating in Afghanistan. Contained within that is the movement planning, coordination and execution of the relief in place for each rotation. I am also the Company Sergeant Major at Bagram airfield for all NZDF personnel stationed there and passing through. A normal day consists of watching over all freight and personnel movements and coordinating accommodation requirements at the Kiwi Lines for personnel who are transiting. I also maintain liaison with the US military and local Afghan transport firms for the movement of NZDF freight within the area of operations.”
Sergeant Ross Clark, NZ Army
“I am the NZDF Movement Control NCO posted to Kandahar Airfield. Being based in the south of Afghanistan I have had the privilege of a very mild winter compared to the rest of the Task Group, with the temperatures being between 2 deg C and 35 deg C. My tour so far has been interesting as Kandahar is the largest NATO airfield in the world. I have met and worked with a variety of nations and personalities. One thing I have become proud of is how much a small nation like New Zealand can achieve with so few assets.”
Corporal Dale Hartley, RNZAF
“I am a storeman at Bagram NSE. The job involves uplifting and receiving inventory from local (US Military) and external sources and preparing the same for freight forwarding to our outer locations. While this sounds simple enough, here in the “BAF” as it is referred to, it can be an extremely frustrating and a very time consuming task.
A great deal of what I do is based on the “Brodem” theory- a word that has evolved from our “Routine demands” and evolved to our Bro’s who help us. Without this help life could be very difficult for us.
Every supplier hopes to improve on what he/she inherits and make life a little easier for the next; it’s just what we do for each other. A significant improvement I have been able to make here is to the handling processes of our inventory by adding a fourth 20ft container and separating out our inwards and outwards transit functions into individual containers. They are fully equipped with power, lighting and the inwards transit now has a standalone laptop and colour printer. All of this was done via “brodems” and the generosity of our coalition friends and contractors. A huge saving to the New Zealand taxpayer, and all part of the job for a “Supp’y” posted to NSE BAF.
The job is full of variety and I never quite know what to expect next, but it is satisfying to know we are making a positive contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom.”