An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Material Management Flight keeps Pope supplied

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kris Levasseur
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Airmen in the 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Management Flight have a lot of responsibility here at Pope; from ordering, stocking and supplying parts and equipment for aircraft to providing deploying Airmen with Airman Battle Uniforms.

There is very little that goes on around Pope without their assistance with obtaining supplies and equipment.

"We supply the 43rd Airlift Wing with everything except for munitions and medical supplies," said Senior Master Sgt. Kelvin Williamson, 43rd LRS Material Management Flight Superintendent. "We also support Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Reserve Command units on Pope."

Not only does the material management flight maintain parts for 16 local aircraft and various transient aircraft on Pope, they also provide weapons, individual protective equipment and uniforms for every deploying Airman.

"We are one of the few bases that support an active duty and active-reserve mission," said Sergeant Williamson. "Our presence can be felt on every aspect of this base. If there are no parts, the aircraft can't fly; without the equipment, our people can't deploy."

For Senior Airman Candice Parks, preparing uniforms for deploying Airmen is her primary mission.

"It is very fulfilling being able to work with people from every organization on base," said Airman Parks. "We provide a valuable service to Pope Airmen by issuing them new uniforms and equipment for their deployment. It takes some of the stress off of them when they are out-processing for a deployment."

The Airmen of the material management flight don't just supply other deploying Airmen; they also deploy in order to take care of supply needs downrange.

"We exist to support the war-fighting mission here at Pope and downrange," said Sergeant Williamson. "At any given time, we have 25 percent of our personnel deployed to locations all around the world to make sure that the aircraft and people have the supplies they need to accomplish the mission."