By Spc. Michele Meadows
1st Sustainment Brigade
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – In Iraq there are moving vehicles everywhere similar to a giant truck stop in the desert.
Keeping those iron-clad steeds rolling along the desert-baked streets of Iraq, falls upon the shoulders of the maintenance crews throughout the Multi-National Division – Baghdad area.
A great deal of that support on Camp Taji falls under the purview of the maintenance crew of the 297th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, which is attached to the 41st Transportation Company, 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, in support of MND-B.
The unit, which is based out of Fort Hood, and falls under 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command, arrived at Camp Taji seven months ago. The unit was assigned a large assortment of damaged or inoperable vehicles and equipment to work with.
After assessing its new environment, the crew rolled up its sleeves and went to work fixing the non-functional vehicles and equipment.
"My guys have put in a lot of hours at the shop and have done an excellent job as far as keeping our overall readiness rating above 95 percent," stated Sgt. Casey Tucker, a Portland, Tenn. native and shop foreman for 297th ICTC.
Since the small maintenance crew has been together, the team has repaired every piece of equipment that has come its way, making sure it runs the way it's supposed to. The Soldiers double check each other's work to ensure it's done right.
"It's better to have at least 18 eyes instead of two. We all check behind each other to do the job right the first time," said Staff Sgt. Douglas Darden, a native of Fayetteville, Texas, and a motor sergeant with 297th ICTC.
During the summer, a new set of challenges is on the mind of the maintenance crew – equipment overheating.
One of the pieces of equipment critical to the 297th ICTC's mission is the Kalmar, which is a large crane-like device used to move containers. Without it, the Soldiers mission becomes much more challenging. The Soldiers strive to keep proper maintenance and care of their own equipment as well as taking care of their fellow Soldiers.
"The Kalmars are an electrical nightmare when it comes to the heat," stated Spc. James Meadows, a Fort Walton Beach, Fla. native, and the unit's Kalmar expert.
Meadows transferred his knowledge and experience on the Kalmar to other types of equipment as well.
Because the company is one of the only cargo companies on post, if the vehicles aren't running, they will not able to complete their mission successfully. Keeping equipment, like the Kalmar running, is a main focus for the maintenance team.
The mission of the eight Soldiers who make up the maintenance team is the equivalent of what a company-sized platoon would normally do, said Darden.
"I haven't seen any maintenance section that can do what we can do. We have the knowledge; we have the experience. There may be some late hours, but we get the job done," Darden said.
"The team does not understand the meaning of 'can't,' nor do they ever give up, added Tucker. "These guys, they come up with outside-the-box stuff just to keep the mission running, it's truly a sight to see. They just find a way to make it happen."
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2008 17:00 |
| Story ID: | 22642 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 249 |
This work, Small Maintenance Crew Performs Critical Mission at Camp Taji, by SPC Michele Meadows, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT