Logistics Support Group delivers

Published On Wed Sep 14 2011

By Sergeant Lance Wade

CF engineers turn seacans into living quarters for ANA

Canadian Forces engineers are converting sea containers — “seacans” — into portable accommodations for soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA). Nineteen seacans are in the process of being converted into quarters complete with electricity, built-in bunk beds, air conditioning and heat.

MTTF logisticians use a Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Container Handler to load a sea can converted into an accommodation module onto a flatbed for the short trip from KAF to Camp Hero.

MTTF logisticians use a Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Container Handler to load a sea can converted into an accommodation module onto a flatbed for the short trip from KAF to Camp Hero.

At Camp Hero, MCpl Marc Savoie (top) and Cpl Corey Tucker of Transport Platoon, MTTF Logistics Support Group prepare to use the load-handling system of their AHSVS armoured truck to unload a sea can converted into modular temporary accommodation.

At Camp Hero, MCpl Marc Savoie (top) and Cpl Corey Tucker of Transport Platoon, MTTF Logistics Support Group prepare to use the load-handling system of their AHSVS armoured truck to unload a sea can converted into modular temporary accommodation.

Lt Tracy Allie of the MTTF Engineer Regiment coordinates delivery of more than 20 sea containers converted to modular temporary accommodations with Afghan soldiers at Camp Hero.

Lt Tracy Allie of the MTTF Engineer Regiment coordinates delivery of more than 20 sea containers converted to modular temporary accommodations with Afghan soldiers at Camp Hero.

Afghan soldiers at Camp Hero take in a demonstration by electrician MCpl Kevin Conroy of the MTTF Engineer Regiment of the wiring inside a sea can converted into modular temporary accommodation.

Afghan soldiers at Camp Hero take in a demonstration by electrician MCpl Kevin Conroy of the MTTF Engineer Regiment of the wiring inside a sea can converted into modular temporary accommodation.

Kandahar, Afghanistan; 17 August 2011 — Despite the smoldering heat, the soldiers of the Logistics Support Group are fully kitted out and battle-ready, no corners cut, for the short trip to Camp Hero, an Afghan National Army training base located just outside Kandahar Airfield. They take their job seriously.

Today, the task is to deliver upwards of 20 shipping containers — “sea cans” — to the Afghan National Army. Thanks to the engineers of the Mission Transition Task Force (MTTF), the sea cans have been converted into modular temporary barracks, complete with bunk beds and air-conditioners. The sea can quarters will be useful to the ANA both in training establishments and in operational areas.

In projects like this, the language barrier plays a significant role. Lieutenant Tracy Allie pf the MTTF Engineer Regiment has to work with the Afghan chain of command at Camp Hero to establish where the converted sea cans should go. It takes a while, but when negotiations are complete and the sea cans are in place, the Afghan soldiers marvel at their amenities: electric lights wired to a single plug for easy connection to a generator and a hard-stand for a heating stove, as well as the famous air-conditioners.

Diligent and meticulous, the MTTF logisticians unload the sea-cans and position them — another resource for the ANA to use in the counter-insurgency campaign.

The Logistics Support Group is an organization of about 130 military and 60 civilian personnel who provide the units of the Mission Transition Task Force with services such as food services, maintenance and transport. The military side of the organization consists of four platoons: Transportation, Supply, Maintenance and Camp Services. The civilian component comprises the Personnel Support Program, which provides welfare services to the Canadian Forces personnel deployed at Kandahar Airfield.

Sgt Lance Wade is the Media Manager with the Public Affairs team deployed at Kandahar Airfield with the Mission Transition Task Force.