LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Front Line Warrior: Lt. Col. Jason Gibson
Deployed Unit: U.S. Force-Afghanistan J4 Directorate
Duty Title: Chief, Material Readiness Branch
Home Unit: 1st Maintenance Squadron
Hometown: Taylorsville, N.C.
Time in Service: Active-duty Air Force for 15.5 years
Describe your deployed duties and the tools you use to accomplish it: I lead of team of 10 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and contractors in ensuring/tracking the readiness and associated logistics for U.S. air and ground combat vehicles and material handling equipment that are used throughout Afghanistan. I travel on a regular basis to out-lying forward operating bases working logistics issues to support both air and ground combat.
What do you bring to the fight? I'm a maintenance officer/ logistician in the Air Force. The skills I've gained over my time in service have directly prepared me for this joint staff assignment here in Afghanistan.
What are you overall thoughts and opinions about your mission there? I am truly enjoying the work we are doing here in Afghanistan. Supporting the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the ground and in the air is both challenging and rewarding. As we coordinate the issue/sustainment of all Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles as well as ensure the sustainment of U.S. Army helicopters in Afghanistan, we know that our efforts to equip our warfighters are keeping them as safe as possible, as they conduct counterinsurgency operations.