Keesler NCO deployed for 'monumental task' Published July 13, 2011 By Senior Airman Amber Kelly-Herard 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing SALAH AD DIN, Iraq -- The 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron has undertaken the immense task of removing more than 12,000 pieces of automated data processing equipment from Joint Base Balad in preparation for the base's transition later this year. Nine airmen from various communications-related Air Force specialty codes have been tasked to accomplish this job. "As one of the largest wings in United States Central Command, this has proven to be a monumental task to accomplish," said 1st Lt. Nate Kane, plans and programs deputy flight commander, who's deployed from Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Ala. "Nobody has a how-to book for something like this." Items being collected include computers, monitors, laptops, printers, televisions, routers, switches and servers. "When equipment is turned in, we categorize it for disposition off Joint Base Balad," said Tech. Sgt. Juan Diaz, asset management noncommissioned officer in charge, who's deployed from Keesler, where he's a member of the 81st Communications Squadron's airfield systems team. "Everything has to be accounted for and cleaned, both physically and logically. It takes about 15 minutes per item." "It feels great to be here to help disperse the inventory and be part of history," added the sergeant who is a native of Ocala, Fla. Most of the equipment is being redistributed within U.S. Central Command. Unserviceable equipment is turned over to the Defense Reutilization Management Office. "It's a challenge to collect equipment while the mission continues," said Kane, who is a native of Rock Hill, S.C. "We rely heavily on commanders and supervisors to ensure their squadron equipment custodians are turning in 10 percent of ADPE assets monthly." "The headway we make today will assist in handing the keys over to the government of Iraq at end-of-mission" added the lieutenant. The squadron is making preparations for the combat communications unit that will deploy to sustain operations until the end of the mission.