Nellis Airman supports deployed wing's material management operations Published April 22, 2010 By Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol 380th Air Expeditionary Wing SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Erica Franks' hometown of Port Huron, Mich., first became a city in 1857. Nestled on the southern shore of Lake Huron in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the city has been a hub of commercial trade ever since. Perhaps, too, that bustling Great Lakes town was an inspiration for Franks to join the Air Force and work in the material management career field. Franks is a material management journeyman with the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. She is deployed from 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In her deployed job, she supports all material management and supply efforts for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing through the base service store -- the "Desert Depot." "During my deployment, I've actually been responsible for different two jobs," Franks said. "When I first got here, I worked in flightline supply. We provided aircraft parts for any type of repairs that needed to be performed. During November and December alone, I ordered $5.9 million dollars in aircraft parts. Without these parts, the wing's mission would come to a complete halt. Some of these parts were mission capability parts. These items are top-priority, mission essential parts that are rushed to the base to keep the 380th flying the air tasking order. "The second half of my deployment has been spent working at the Desert Depot customer service area," Franks said. "We order anything and everything needed by units to accomplish their missions. We order everything from paper to plungers. My favorite part is the interacting with the customers." In her career field, Franks is required to maintain qualification in preparing and maintaining documentation and records associated with inventory management actions, her official Air Force job description shows. Her job skills also include issuing and transferring property, conducting inventories and segregating and preparing property for storage as well as identifying items and condition of property. "Without us, everything stops," Franks said. "Our contribution helps keep the mission going - from plane parts to uniforms for our Airmen." Material management Airmen like Franks have to maintain mandatory knowledge in basic mathematics, supply policies and procedures, Air Force property accounting, stock and inventory control, accountability and responsibility, principles of property accounting through manual or automated data processing, storage methods, warehouse control (receipt, issue, and disposal) and materiel handling techniques. They also must know methods of preparing and maintaining supply records, manual and automated supply accounting systems, logistics principles and interactions (supply, maintenance, transportation, and procurement), hazardous material and waste procedures; and supply management for contingency operations. Now having served more than two years, Franks said she is proud to be serving in the Air Force and the military. "Serving my country makes me feel proud that I'm doing something selfless and productive with my life," Franks said. "Although I'm only here for six months, sacrificing my daily comforts at home, I know I'm doing my part to keep the American people free." The deployment to the 380th AEW is her first deployment. Franks said it has been a learning experience. "I've learned a lot on this deployment about my job, about working with people, and about different cultures," she said. "This deployment has helped me realize the full importance of my job, especially in the deployed area of responsibility. Being deployed to this part of the world has also opened my eyes and broadened my understanding on culture. I feel like this deployment has helped me grow as a person, also. It has matured me." The 380th ELRS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
