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ESS Logistics Cell

By FLTLT Gabby Knight (Senior Officer Logistics)

The Expeditionary Support Squadron (ESS) Logistics Cell consists of three people—Mr Jim Menzies, Sergeant Kirrin Borgman, and Flight Lieutenant Gabby Knight. Located in the ESS Headquarters building at Whenuapai, they provide logistics support to ESS and the activities ESS is involved in. What follows is a quick snapshot of what they are doing to support ESS and the wider RNZAF organisation.

Possible future asset, an Inflatable Air Shelter. WN-10-0025-002.
An Inflatable Air Shelter

ESS Stores

These are small stores, similar to a Forward Support Section, with one in Auckland and a smaller one in Ohakea.

The stores hold a variety of expeditionary equipment, including:

  • specialist Air Security gear
  • quick response kits (ration packs, cookers, sleeping bags etc), and
  • training stock for Core Military Skill courses.

Over the next few months we will be working towards improving our processes and providing a more effective and efficient service to ESS units.

Equipment

We are currently looking at some of the equipment we hold in our stores. Recent activities have highlighted to us that some pieces of kit are not really suited to the environments we are working in. So we have started some research into replacement equipment.

Expeditionary Pack-Up Project

An aerial view of the camp at Faleolo Airport, set up for RNZAF’s Exercise Tropic Astra 09. AK-09-0451-010.
An aerial view of the camp

This project is our main focus this year. We are currently working on coding all existing expeditionary equipment across the RNZAF. This will lead to the eventual loading of all equipment onto a database so we can have better visibility of what we have, and where. It will also make it easier for us to manage, including the repair cycle of gear and the management and replacement programmes for old or damaged items. Hand-in-hand with this is the research and procurement of future RNZAF expeditionary capability. We are looking at what our future camps will look like and thinking about how the RNZAF new aircraft platforms will affect this.

Exercise Planning

Current asset managed by ESS, an Avant 520 Bobcat mini digger. WN-10-0025-001.
Mini digger

We are responsible for the planning of all logistics aspects of an exercise—from movement and rations, to procurement, local contracts and hireage. We don’t, as a rule, deploy on the exercise itself but rather work alongside those that do. A recent example was Exercise Tropic Astra. The ESS Logistics cell worked with the deploying Supply Officer to co-ordinate the numerous moving parts, including the transport of all exercise equipment via the HMNZS CANTERBURY.

So that’s us! The ESS Logistics Cell is here to support the RNZAF with all its expeditionary requirements. If you have some ideas to contribute or need some assistance, we would love to hear from you.

Contact Us!

  • ESS Store, Mr Jim Menzies
  • Logistics Readiness, SGT Kirrin Borgman
  • Operational Logistics Support, FLTLT Gabby Knight

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