ZUTENDAAL, Belgium – In 1985 he was stationed at Tongeren, Belgium, with the British Royal Air Power working for NATO. From there, he would generally be dispatched to close by Zutendaal Army Depot to offer upkeep assist to automobiles there. At the moment, U.S. forces had been first establishing what was then known as prepositioning of materiel configured in unit units, or POMCUS, the precursor to at this time’s Army Prepositioned Shares-2.
Quick ahead 37 years later, and he’s now working on the Zutendaal APS-2 web site. Now not assigned to the Royal Air Power, Antony Phoenix now serves with the U.S. Army and the 405th Army Area Assist Brigade.
Because the staff lead for the preservation staff at Zutendaal below the command and management of Army Area Assist Battalion-Benelux, Phoenix is answerable for a staff of six personnel, to incorporate one carpenter. Their mission is to make sure all APS-2 tools is preserved correctly, in accordance with Army tips and laws.
“We have now a e-book that I name our preservation bible,” mentioned Phoenix. “It particulars what we have to do for every particular person piece of kit, line-by-line.”
For instance, Phoenix and his staff make sure that all rust is faraway from any and all APS-2. And if there’s any extreme grease or something of that nature, that’s additionally eliminated. As well as, among the digital tools should be vacuum packed and positioned in particular packaging.
The preservation staff additionally ensures that each one APS-2 tools scheduled to be saved inside one of many climate-controlled warehouses is totally cleaned, and if one thing is scheduled to ship again to america, it receives a deep cleansing to forestall environmental contamination or issues with customs.
“We don’t need any nasty beetles or spiders from Belgium entering into America and inflicting environmental issues,” mentioned Phoenix, who lives in Tongeren, 25 kilometers from Zutendaal, along with his spouse, Anne.
The British and Belgian twin citizen who turns 62 subsequent month has a variety of expertise with floor assist tools and guaranteeing it stays totally mission succesful. At one level throughout his 12 years of service with the Royal Air Power he deployed to the Falkland Islands for a number of months. On the time, all the ability there was equipped by mills, and Phoenix was answerable for sustaining all of that tools – finally retaining all of the lights on and all of the services working.
“Throughout my time with the Royal Air Power I labored on just about every part,” mentioned Phoenix who hails from Wrexham, Wales. “If it didn’t have a wing hooked up to it and it was electrically equipped, I labored on it.”
From vacuum cleaners and mills all the way in which as much as the tools used to start out the jet engines, Phoenix stored it working and in tip-top type for the Royal Air Power. However for Phoenix, working for the U.S. Army has been equally rewarding.
“I get pleasure from working for the U.S. Army, as effectively. For me, it’s good to see how the American aspect works. The whole lot appears to be clicking in the proper locations, and we’ve gotten good outcomes throughout,” Phoenix mentioned.
“In a method, what’s occurred over the previous few months has supplied some good perception for everybody,” he mentioned. “Now, they really know why they’re right here. It’s not good that now we have to do it, nevertheless it’s good that we’ve proven we’re able to doing it.”
“And personally, I’m extraordinarily proud,” mentioned Phoenix. “All of the suggestions we’ve acquired from all of the models and all of the Troopers we’ve supported – plus from our web site director and the administrators from provide and upkeep – has been very optimistic. We’ve all been doing a reasonably substantial job, and all people is appreciative of our work.”
“Personally, I discover that my staff is likely one of the greatest groups on Zutendaal,” mentioned Phoenix, “however clearly I’m going to say that. I’m slightly biased.”
The Zutendaal APS-2 web site maintains tools designated for a sustainment brigade and separate reporting models and encompasses 600,000 sq. toes of local weather managed warehouse house in 15 warehouses in addition to 40,000 sq. toes of hardstand storage.
Battalion Benelux is considered one of 4 battalions assigned to the 405th AFSB. The battalion offers mission command of APS-2 operations at Eygelshoven, Netherlands, and Zutendaal, and is charged with offering and coordinating receipt, switch, storage and upkeep of APS-2. This permits commanders to conduct unified motion and carry out a full vary of army operations in assist of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
The 405th AFSB is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and below the operational management of the twenty first Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and offers materiel enterprise assist to U.S. Forces all through Europe and Africa – offering theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and expertise; and leveraging the U.S. Army Materiel Command materiel enterprise to assist joint forces. For extra info on the 405th AFSB, go to the official web site and the official Fb web site.