Engineers Work to Improve Iraqi Supply System

BAGHDAD - Soldiers of the 101st Engr Bn have been working with members of the IA Field Engr Regt, to establish a functional supply system for the IA engrs. Staff Sgt. Frank Lopez has already conducted 7 maintenance and ops courses over the past few months. Iraqi Lt. Ammar has attended several of these classes.

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During one of the first courses together, Lopez taught the Soldiers how parts are ordered in the U.S. military. "The military has a good supply system; Ammar liked that we can look up part numbers to any part that we might need," said Lopez. Ammar understood the process, but explained to Lopez that the 6th IA FER has no such process. Lopez has dedicated a lot of time to teaching Ammar as much as he can about the U.S. military supply system. "I'm happy to help; he's one of the first to take the initiative," said Lopez. "He'll be the first to get this organized, and if it works for him, he will be able to teach all the other engr regts." Ammar is currently working on obtaining all of the parts manuals he can, that correspond with his unit's equipment. Most of the manuals arrive in English, and he has a difficult time reading them. Ammar is enrolled in English classes to help him with this project and his career. Lopez suggested that while Ammar takes on this task, he look to his senior NCOs to help lead the Soldiers of his field engr regt. "I've full support from my cmdr; whatever I do is in the best interest of the regt," said Ammar.

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