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New IPE system set to expedite deployment process

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Bass
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  A voice from loudspeakers dictates instructions to the installation shouting, "alarm red, MOPP level four." Airmen scramble to put on individual protective equipment, quickly donning masks, gloves, jackets, trousers, and overboots.

This quick set of actions may sound like it comes from the latest action video game, but it is a common routine for Team Shaw Airmen during exercises, and it is the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron material management flight which makes changing into mission oriented protective posture gear possible.

To assist in the storing and distribution of IPE, headquarters Air Force mandated that all IPE shops go from their current system, the Mobility Inventory Control and Accountability System, to the Integrated Logistics System-Supply, by June 1, 2016.

From Nov. 9-13, more than 360 man-hours went into breaking down bags into the respective components, putting the Shaw IPE shop ahead of schedule by seven months.

The new process allows deploying Airmen to walk through the warehouse, picking up each item they need and then sign the paperwork at the end of the line, rather than having the IPE Airmen attempt to find each item, said Tech. Sgt. Donald Shutters, the 20th LRS non-commissioned officer in charge of IPE.

"The intent is to expedite the process," said Senior Airman Keith Brunner, a 20th LRS IPE journeyman. "It will make it smoother, and create one system for supply across the Air Force."

The task of converting to the new system involves disassembling, testing, and storing like items by size for more than 1,000 IPE bags, resulting in approximately 100,000 individual components being sorted and tested.

In an effort to help with this task, the 20th LRS augmented Airmen from around base to assist in the effort.

While the new system is untested as of now and will not come into effect until June, IPE Airmen are excited for the challenge.

"This effort represents a tremendous leap in capability for the management of mobility items," said Linda Washington, the 20th LRS material management flight chief.

As the giant voice system bellows across base, the quick response of Team Shaw donning their gear is a reflection of IPE Airmen's hard work to streamline the process, ensuring that every Airman has the right IPE for the mission.