It was a joint effort from members of 26 facilities. The mission: “Operation Clean Sweep”.

Operation Clean Sweep is mission to dispose of obsolete and broken equipment that have been plaguing facilities for years. Soldiers and civilians participated in weeklong mission they expect to improve the efficiency of operations in Army Reserve Centers.

Sheila Kennedy, logistical supervisor for the Directorate of Logistics at the 81st Readiness Division, contacted the field supply technicians in the nine states covered by the 81st RD, challenging them to help facility coordinators accomplish any logistical requirements and educate them on the proper turn in procedures. Mr. Michael Jones, supply technician for SAWTST as a contractor, who works in Birmingham, Alabama, accepted the challenge. 

Jones had been visiting his facilities in Alabama, doing the paperwork for the equipment, but when he would return, the paperwork would still be the same. He felt he needed to do something about that. 

“We needed to eliminate the clutter,” he said, “it has an effect on the units and it is widespread. I was new to the game. I had only been there for about 18 months.” 

“Facility coordinators provided manpower at each location to help load the truck that would take excess equipment out of their facilities,” said Kennedy. 

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Jones, Commander of the 81st RD, established an “Initiative” to the Logistics Directorate to improve communication between facility tenants and the RD, to improve “housekeeping” and remove excess equipment. This operation is an example of the cooperation Maj. Gen. Jones had in mind, according to Ms. Kennedy. 

“Mr. Marcus Bell, an Information Management Specialist in his capacity as a civilian military technician, volunteered to help Mr. Jones desensitize the automation and network equipment as required.” Said Kennedy, “The coordination of this effort happened during the week that some of the facility coordinators were attending the 81st annual Facility Coordinator Workshop.”

“Most organizations don’t have the ability to do what we did,” said Mr. Jones. “We know the process and we have the funding. If we didn’t do it, then there would be 26 different groups showing up at the turn in facility. It was just more cost effective than having each unit or facility try to contract transportation and do all the scheduling.” 

The project yielded more than 33,000 pounds of excess, broken and old equipment that has been turned in from 26 separate facilities. 

Anyone interested in participating in an event like this should contact Kennedy at sheila.kennedy.civ@mail.mil.