Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Patrick Todd, a Madisonville, Ky., native, of Company B, 526th Brigade Support...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Aaron Nestor
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq—The Soldiers from Company B, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) create weapons platforms for use in joint security stations throughout northwest Baghdad.
The weapons platforms are made by the Soldiers of the service section in the company. These platforms allow tower guards the flexibility to mount different crew served weapons depending on their mission; they also provide stability ensuring positive control and the accuracy needed for defeating insurgent actions.
These mounts are a base plate with a multiple use pintle adapter welded on the base plate along with a butt stock rest and four supports to emplace the mount on the tower wall. The pattern was derived from a prototype supplied by the Strike Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder, who also ensured these mounts were delivered and emplaced at the JSSs. Schroeder expressed through conversation that the tower guards were delighted to be able to use these mounts.
The shop set up an assembly system in order to increase production time. Each of the welders prepared the metal parts ensuring they were cut to the proper size and ready to assemble. Once the parts were ready for five to seven mounts, the welders would assist each other in finishing the mounts. The welders ensured that all fabricated parts were securely mounted and welded in place to ensure that the platforms provided a solid base for the weapon crew. The manufacture of these weapons mounts is provided by the service section, lead by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Byrin Wheatley.
"These weapons mounts will assist our Soldiers at the JSS towers allowing them to provide the over-watch protection at the right location at the right time," said Wheatley.
Each of these mounts takes about four hours to produce. The service section has produced over 20 mounts and prepares to manufacture more with improvements suggested by the weapons crews. Most of the materials kept on hand at the shop where they can be used for different projects, although some specialty items are more difficult to acquire. The Soldiers have learned how to network and use Army resources to accomplish their mission. The welding is accomplished under a clamshell shaded area which provides minimal protection from the wind and blowing sand.
"It is good to know that our work contributes to the mission Soldiers are doing out in Baghdad; it gives me a feeling of accomplishing something worth-while" said Pfc. Patrick Todd, a native of Madisonville, Ky.
When compared to other projects this shop has accomplished, this is one of the less complex jobs. These welders have put armor on forklifts, created security doors and walk-through gates, designed and manufactured armor plates and windows for guard towers, and made counter improvised explosive device rollers. No job is too great or too small for the Soldiers of the company's service section. They will do whatever they are tasked to keep the Soldiers of the Strike Brigade in the fight.
The Service section consists of Wheatley, Todd, Sgt. Aaron Nestor from Pittsburgh, Pa., and Spc. Philip Price, a native of Marbury, Ala. The service section has produced over 20 mounts and is preparing to manufacture more with improvements suggested by the weapons crews.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2008 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 15615 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 579 |
| Downloads: | 519 |
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