A, B, C which is needed for me

Senior Airmen Melvin Ashley, foreground, and Airman 1st Class Burgundy Rostchild, both from 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment, sort through chemical protective gear at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 29, 2013. IPE Airmen at the 2nd LRS mobility section are responsible for more than 10,500 pieces of equipment Barksdale Airmen use while on a temporary duty assignments or deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland)

A, B, C which is needed for me

Senior Airmen Melvin Ashley, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment, sorts through chemical protective gear at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 29, 2013. IPE Airmen at the 2nd LRS mobility section are responsible for more than 10,500 pieces of equipment Barksdale Airmen use while on a temporary duty assignments or deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland)

A, B, C - which is needed for me?

Published May 30, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Deployments and temporary duty assignments are a part of life within the Air Force.

When Airmen have to go, mobility Airmen from the 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron ensure the right bags are packed.

"We issue Airmen what they need for where they are going," said Master Sgt. Lataska Brown 2nd LRS individual protective equipment NCO-in-charge. "We keep track of more than 10,500 items in our warehouse that we use for the Airmen's readiness."

The mobility section packs and prepares three different classes of bags that Airmen might need. From A-Bags, or general use bags; B-Bags, or cold weather bags; and C-Bags, or chemical warfare bags, the dedicated professionals take care of the Airmen that come through mobility for what they need.

"The mobility section helps us when we are sending Airmen to Guam, Minot or even downrange. They are an essential link in the deployment chain," said Staff Sgt. William Manley 2nd Maintenance Squadron unit deployment monitor. "We send them a list of what we need and the get the bags ready for us. Last year we sent more than 300 people to Guam and mobility set up everyone's C-Bag for the deployment."

Mobility is not just about building the different bags that Airmen need, the section also monitors all the different items that require regular inspection or replacement.
"Most of the things we have to monitor are the shelf and service life's of the C-bags contents," said Tech. Sgt Anthony Mosby 2nd LRS IPE assistant NCO-in-charge. "Some of the items like M-8 or M-9 paper, or even the J-list, have a shelf and service life that can expire and make it unusable."

The mobility section also issues out training gear for Airmen.

From building deployment bags to providing training gear, the mobility team supports Barksdale's global deterrence mission, anytime and anywhere.