AFSAC hosts workshop for FMS partners

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate recently hosted its first Non-Standard Supply Workshop for foreign military partners at the Montgomery County Business Solutions Center in Dayton, Ohio.

The three-day event brought together allies from more than 23 nations as well as Air Force and Department of Defense acquisition and logistics experts, to exchange ideas, receive valuable training and discuss AFSAC’s Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Services (WWRS) and Parts and Repair Ordering System (PROS) programs.

Linda Sny, the AFSAC deputy director, kicked off the event by welcoming attendees and highlighting the importance of WWRS and PROS.

“We are honored to have so many of our valued partners and stakeholders here with us,” said Sny. “AFSAC’s mission is to deliver airpower capabilities to strengthen international partnerships and advance U.S. national security, and PROS and WWRS are a key part of that mission.”

The PROS program supports foreign military partners by helping them locate hard to find aircraft parts and repair capability when necessary.  PROS also provides diverse customers with a contract vehicle for specialized task orders to support logistics requirements. PROS successfully processes thousands of transactions per month, with a very low cancellation rate. 

The WWRS program serves as an “eBay” of excess aircraft parts and support equipment for foreign military sales, by being a platform for authorized users (foreign partners and other service branches) to buy or sell spare aircraft parts and support equipment amongst each other.  WWRS gives them access to what are often hard to find parts, allowing them to save money and keep their aircraft operational.  In addition, for countries selling items, the program gives them a cost effective option to sell aircraft parts for which they have a surplus of or no longer require.  This frees up critical warehouse space and generates funding for their other needs.

“The Non-Standard Supply Workshop organized recently by AFSAC team was a perfect addition to our FLO community training schedule,” said Col. Jacek Brzezinski, a Polish foreign liaison officer. “It was a great opportunity not only to see how the system is designed and how it performs but foremost to meet and greet key people that stand behind WWRS and PROS programs. After all it’s all about ‘human to human interface’ that counts when it comes to getting in-depth knowledge and solving troubles. Thank you very much AFSAC, outstanding job!!!”

During the workshop, attendees received in depth training on a large variety of PROS and WWRS topics, to include item eligibility requirements, case processing, and financial flow/reports.  They also had an opportunity to meet individually with Air Force WWRS and PROS experts to discuss issues specific to their country or organization.

“This workshop was a success,” said Matt Meginnes, Section Chief for Non-Standard Supply at AFSAC, and one of the organizers of the event.  “It allowed our partner nations to come together and learn about PROS and WWRS, how they work and how to use them.  We want our partner nations to be successful and to be able to do their missions alongside of us or by themselves. What we do supports that.”

An expanded AFSAC International Logistics Workshop will be held in the Fall of 2019.