By Jacqueline Jastrzebski, Logistics Officer Association Public Affairs

Logistics Airmen from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, gather in September 2017 to discuss revitalizing the long-dormant LOA Hindu Chapter. The chapter’s main goal is to continue pursuing professional development while deployed by taking advantage of BAF’s unique joint environment. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Thursday, April 13, 2017, at 7:32 p.m. ET, the US dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, more commonly referred to as the “mother of all bombs.

The target was an ISIS cave and tunnel complex in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. The blast is said to have slain more than 90 ISIS fighters. Where the MOAB sat in secret prior to its drop is a lesser known story.

In the months leading up to the deployment of the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the US military’s arsenal, the MOAB had a temporary home at Bagram Airfield in the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron’s ammunition supply point.

“For BAF to be involved in such a historical event is history making stuff,” said Maj. Anthony Sutton, 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron commander. “Events like this will be published in future Air Force historical references and professional development guides for study.”

Tech. Sgt. Chris Brunsman is a munitions systems specialist assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Brunsman is deployed out of Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and is a native of Cottonwood, Arizona. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)

The Major notes that munitions systems Airmen from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and Special Operations personnel played a key role in the daily inspection, maintenance and protection of the asset.

As logisticians and maintainers at BAF began to realize the scope of the mission they accomplish day in and day out, they also realized the need to revive LOA’s Hindu Chapter at their location.

“Having a LOA chapter at a deployed location is vital since here is where the mission happens, and here is where the relationships and knowledge you gain from LOA participation are most effective,” said Col. Timothy Trimmell, 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group commander.

Soon after Trimmell and Col. Phillip Noltemeyer, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander took command, they made it their goal to bring LOA back to BAF.

“From learning who to talk to, to learning what each unit brings to the fight, to learning new ways to tackle challenges, the opportunities LOA provides pay off directly here at Bagram in the generation of combat sorties,” Noltemeyer said.

Lt. Col. Robert Kongaika, right, the incoming 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, receives the 455th EAMXS guidon from Col. Tim Trimmell, the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group commander, during a change of command at Bagram Airfield, July 14, 2017. Kongaika previously served as the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)

The chapter has already begun to thrive by gaining more than 30 Air Force, Navy and civilian members through two deployment rotations at BAF.

1st Lt. Mike Comiskey, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron Det 1/OL-B officer in charge, mentioned the group recently toured the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services yard and plans to visit BAF’s munitions storage area and counter-rocket, artillery and mortar batteries in the near future.

LOA’s Hindu Chapter members played a critical role in national defense throughout 2017. Airmen at BAF saw a rapid increase in personnel and munitions deployed in their area of responsibility.

Increases and plus-ups never come without challenges, just like when six aircraft from Aviano Air Base, Italy, landed at BAF in October.

Upon arrival, all six of the aircraft were code three, meaning each of them was experiencing a maintenance issue that would prevent them from flying until it was resolved.

“Using the troubleshooting skills of our maintainers in concert with engineers back at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, we discovered this was being caused by a software glitch as result of the aircraft having recently undergone a software upgrade,” said Lt. Col. Robert Kongaika, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander.

Kongaika said maintainers were able to resolve the issue in less than eight hours. The fruits of their labor became evident in the record breaking number of bombs dropped in October.

1st Lt. Joshua White (right), 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron officer, and Airman 1st Class Trevis Pridgen (center), 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management journeyman, verifies the quantity of a product Nov. 4, 2017 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Divine Cox)

For many of the men and women in LOA’s Hindu Chapter, their experience at BAF has shaped the way they value logistics.

“From force level increases, to mission changes, to constant monitoring of resupply routes throughout the region, operational leaders know that the success of the mission relies on logistics,” Trimmell said.

The Hindu Chapter is made up of members of all ages and ranks. Some have a handful of deployments under their belt, others are facing the challenge for the first time.

“This is my first deployment and it has definitely opened my eyes to the important role played by logisticians in a combat zone,” said Comiskey. “Without the efforts of logistics professionals across the base, our resources would just sit idly in a cargo yard instead of being employed effectively in military operations across Afghanistan.”

In the future, current Hindu Chapter members are confident their group will continue to flourish. They believe the benefits of LOA participation are evident in strengthened relationships between personnel and the knowledge gained from chapter events.

Staff Sgts Donterrio Erby and William Mitchell, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion craftsmen, remove the exterior segment of an F-16 Fighting Falcon engine at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2017. The segment was removed to repair a damaged turbine blade. (U.S.Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Crawley)

Comiskey’s hope is that the chapter will one day consist of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and civilian members from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing and US Forces Afghanistan to capitalize on the unique joint-education and professional development opportunities at BAF.

2017 was undoubtabley a busy year for all military personnel deployed in Afghanistan. Using limited free time to participate in LOA is a feat to be proud of as we continue to strengthen the logistics career fields.

After all, logistics wins wars, and Col. Trimmell reminds us, “Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics.”