KBR manager dumbfounded by rules and regs???

New JBB East Side Post Office Dedicated to Fallen Postal Employees
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Story by Sgt. Ryan Twist
Date: 12.19.2009

Wiley Fletcher (photo location unknown)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Seven Soldiers and two civilians were honored for their vital roles in postal operations during a dedication ceremony Dec. 17 for the new facility at the east side post office at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Capt. David W. Laes, commander of the 847th Human Resources Company out of Fort Snelling, Okla., with the 90th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), said the Soldiers and civilians who voluntarily give their time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom are proud American citizens.

Laes, a St. Paul, Minn., native, said the Soldiers’ and civilians’ brave and vital tasks create a stable and secure environment for communities worldwide.

At JBB, those tasks sometimes involve placing themselves in harm’s way by conducting missions that range from route clearance and reconnaissance to postal operations and logistical support convoys, he said.

“Since the beginning of operations in Iraq, there have been numerous casualties,” said Laes. “We honor our fallen daily by continuing to serve and conduct our mission with integrity, bravery and honor. The postal personnel at Joint Base Balad are dedicating the newly built post office on east Balad to our fallen postal heroes that gave their lives in support of the United States of America.”

Brig. Gen. Paul L. Wentz, commanding general of the 13th ESC out of Fort Hood, Texas, said he was honored to be at the dedication.

“I think it’s fitting and appropriate that the plaque down in [Camp] Liberty got moved up here and recognizes the nine fallen postal workers that paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Wentz. “It really represents the postal community and the folks that have been dedicated to providing mail services to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians in this theater for a long time.”

Laes said the nine deceased performed postal missions across Iraq to ensure Warfighters and civilians kept in touch with friends and family back home. He said postal operations are a vital link for communication and high morale for service members at contingency operating locations throughout the country.

“Every unit in theater plays an enormous role in making sure that our mission is accomplished,” he said. “As postal workers, we take pride in supporting every [service member] and civilian. By dedicating this post office to our fallen postal comrades, their dedication to service will always be remembered.”

On the plaque are: Spc. Darryl Dent, 21, 547th Transportation Company, Washington, Aug. 26, 2003; Vernon Gaston, 45, KBR Inc., Lampasas, Texas, Sept. 3, 2003; Spc. Jeremy Ridlen, 23, 1544th Transportation Company, Illinois Army National Guard, Moroa, Ill., May 23, 2004; Spc. Charles Lamb, 23, 1544th Trans. Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Casey, Ill., Sept. 5, 2004; Sgt. Shawna Morrison, 26, 1544th Trans. Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Paris, Ill., Sept. 5, 2004; Sgt. Jessica Cawvey, 21, 1544th Trans. Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Normal, Ill., Oct. 6, 2004; Pfc. Isaiah Hunt, 20, 497th Transportation Company, 1st Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash., Green Bay, Wis., Nov. 15, 2004; Sgt. Rocky Payne, 26, 497th Trans. Co., 1st Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash., Howell, Utah, Mar. 16, 2005; Fred Bryant, 39, KBR Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 5, 2003.

“There are lots of lives, not one life is more important than the other one, those just happen to be the ones we picked,” said Laes. “The [plaque] we have here is a reproduction of the one in [Camp Liberty, Baghdad] to honor the Soldiers.”

Lt. Col. Tracy Williams, the human resources operations branch officer in charge with the 90th Sustainment Brigade out of Little Rock, Ark., 13th ESC, said she is happy to see the new facility finished.

“I’m just so glad it’s over with because it has taken so long,” said Williams, a Groveport, Ohio, native. “They spent [more than] $600,000 on this facility. You don’t want it to just sit.”

The facility is larger than the previous building, allowing Soldiers to wait inside instead of out in the weather, said Williams. She said the extra space also accommodates more workers to increase efficiency.

Laes said they now have more table room for mandatory customs inspections. The new inspection tables have bins attached to them, which makes the area more customer friendly, he said.
Williams said she liked both facilities and considered the mission a success.

“I would love to come here in another year or so from now and see how it has progressed,” she said. “The old facility had a very home feeling.”

Wiley L. Fletcher, a KBR, Inc. employee and the project manager for the postal mission in Iraq, said the project went well under the circumstances.

“It’s been really extreme at times,” said Fletcher, a Rosepine, La., native. “I had no idea that there were so many rules and regulations. We’ve done great with it. We’re proud of it and we’re motivated to work here. We know the personnel that come through here will be well served by this facility.”

Fletcher said the old post office set a record, with more than 18 million pounds of mail coming in and out of Iraq in December of 2007.

“We move anywhere from eight [million] to 18 million pounds a month,” he said.

Laes reminded everyone present at the ceremony what the building, and the plaque, symbolized.

“[Americans] have given their lives in sacrifice for something that they believe will bring a better, more promising future for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come,” he said. “We come together in the most difficult of times to help one another, whether in financial crisis, natural disaster or armed conflict.” (click HERE for the original article)

I think this new post office is great and I know the soldiers and civilians who so desperately rely on mail from friends and family will appreciate it. And lets not forget the ever so important on-line shopping to purchase those very important items not found at the PX. I think it’s wonderful it’s been dedicated to soldiers and civilians who died while supporting the Postal mission.

But, from this article I am getting undertones of frustration from the client:

“I’m just so glad it’s over with because it has taken so long,” said Williams, a Groveport, Ohio, native. “They spent [more than] $600,000 on this facility. You don’t want it to just sit.”

We don’t know all the specifics for the delays. The building could have been hit by a mortar halfway through and they might have had to start over. It could happen! I would love to know the specifics on this project!

But then add this statements by KBR’s Wiley Fletcher:

Wiley L. Fletcher, a KBR, Inc. employee and the project manager for the postal mission in Iraq, said the project went well under the circumstances.

“It’s been really extreme at times,” said Fletcher, a Rosepine, La., native. “I had no idea that there were so many rules and regulations…..

What? You were the Project Manager of the Postal Mission and didn’t you know there were so many rules and regulations? It is a Post Office. Common sense would tell the average person there will be an abundance of rules and regulations! If I’m not mistaken, Wiley was one of the guys who drove into Iraq from Kuwait in 2003 as a welder from Louisiana. I can see where he might not know anything about US Postal laws and regulations. Why did KBR put someone in charge of the Postal Mission who has no official US Postal experience?

This is a classic example of KBR putting unqualified people in positions of responsibility. I have nothing personal against Wiley, he was my KBR Deputy Project Manager at USMI in 2004 before he was promoted to a full fledged Project Manager for the LOGCAP III mission in Djibouti, Africa. I know I brought several safety issues to him, unlike other PM’s and DPM’s I dealt with, he at least acted like he was listening. It was more likely he was better than most at patronizing me and sending me on my way.

If Fluor is awarded the current Postal mission task order that is currently up for bid, maybe they will hire someone who is more familiar with the US Postal Service “rules and reqs”. I’m sure there is some disgruntled postal employee in the States who would love to go to Iraq and set things right.

Ms Sparky