Introduction
Logistics is a key element in the military since it ensures correct planning and efficient maintenance of forces. Logistics are crucial for the execution of military operations, without which the military would not be able to function. Logistics forms a bridge between the forces and the industrial base of the nation, which involves the production of weapons, equipment, and other supplies which deployed forces require in order to successfully accomplish their mission. There are many types of positions in the sphere of military logistics, and one of them is the Supply System Technician, 920B. Supply system technicians are professionals who engage in the maintenance of an interrupted flow of products in the organization for which they work.
Safety
One of the main tasks of every supply system technician is ensuring that the Supply Support Activity (SSA) facility they work in complies with all safety standards. The core responsibility of supply system technicians is to supervise the area in order to establish that all activities do not pose any hazard or risk to the personnel (Department of the Army, 2014). Additionally, technicians control the execution of safety precautions by other personnel members and intervene when there are violations. Technicians also must possess knowledge of all types of materials stored in the facility and be aware of how to handle them. Thus, it is possible to say that supply system technicians impact their organization by keeping it safe from potential SSA hazards.
Managing Supplies
The primary role of supply system technicians is supply management which involves conducting activities such as receiving, storing, issuing, and shipping supplies. Technicians are tasked with the reception of supplies at the receiving point from different sources, including other SSAs (“Supply support,” n.d.). Technicians must not only receive the product but, first of all, check its integrity and shipping documents and unpack some of them. Technicians also need to inspect the supplies at the receiving point in order to ensure that they were correctly sent to the SSA and in proper condition. Additionally, technicians must instruct other personnel on the policies applying to the management of supplies, as well as the functional procedures. By receiving supplies and conducting inspections at the receiving spot, supply system technicians ensure that the supported units always have the necessary equipment and materials ready.
Another area of supply system technicians’ activities covers the storage of supplies kept at the SSA where they work. Essentially, technicians should oversee the process of how the material is stored in the facility. Technicians also have to ensure that all the products are stored using appropriate equipment, such as storage bins, and at easily accessible locations. Storage also involves maintenance of both the supplies and facility to protect and safeguard the material, which involves collecting trash and cleaning. Regular inspections of the facilities must be carried out by technicians to establish that the supplies are not exposed to weather, insects, or rodents. Overall, by ensuring proper storage, supply system technicians guarantee that the units they support will be provided with immediate supplies.
Another major task of supply system technicians is the issuance of the supplies stored at the warehouse. Here, the main responsibility is the issuance of the necessary products on time and efficiently in the correct quantities as requested by the units (Montgomery, 2020). Additionally, technicians have to ensure that all supplies issued at the SSA are in proper condition. The supplies ready to be issued have to be placed in the appropriate beans and have to be protected until the moment they are transferred to the unit. Most importantly, technicians have to prepare the documents and all the paperwork accompanying every act of issuing supplies. Therefore, supply system technicians positively impact their organization when they issue material efficiently.
Since certain products at times have to be transferred from the warehouse to other locations, supply system technicians also need to engage in the shipping of supplies. The sole responsibility of technicians is to ensure that the material they ship reaches the destination in the same condition as when it departed the SSA (Department of the Army, 2014). As a result, exemplary shipping involves choosing an appropriate package that corresponds to the weight and dimensions of the product. Once the shipment s packaged, technicians have to attach Radio Frequency Identification tags and seal the mode of transportation. Radio Frequency Identification refers to a system consisting of tags, an interrogator, a computer, and a docking station. The tag is important for maintaining the shipment transit visibility and, therefore, must contain all the necessary identification information.
Stock Control and Inventory
The stock control performed by supply system technicians contributes to maintaining accountability for the stocked material, while inventories help to understand that the supplies are usable. Stock control is used to determine possible excess at the warehouse, assess inventory discrepancies, and provide status on follow-ups, due-ins, and cancellation of requests for the unit. Supply system technicians conduct regular inventories to ensure that the inventory records are accurate. Thus, technicians make it possible to analyze whether the unit they are assigned to has all the required material.
Conclusion
Supply system technicians play a crucial role in the provision of logistics for the organization they are assigned to and maintain a proper flow of material. First of all, supply system technicians undertake efforts to guarantee the safety of the personnel and people in the SSA. Secondly, supply system technicians engage in the management of supplies which involves receiving, storing, issuing, and shipping the products. Finally, supply system technicians monitor the inventory and detect possible excess and deficiencies, as well as the usability of the stored products.
References
Department of the Army. (2014). Supply support activity operations. Army Publishing Directorate. Web.
Montgomery, C. (2020). Vital brigade combat team logistics readiness link: Improving supply-support-activity operations. Fort Benning. Web.
Supply support activity afloat (SSAA). (n.d.). Web.