ELMACO Marines save III MEF time, money

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anne Henry | Lance Cpl. William B. Cooper inspects a piece of communications equipment Dec. 4 at Camp Kinser. Cooper is a test measurement and diagnostic equipment technician with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry/Released)  

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

12.04.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Anne Henry 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP KINSER, Japan - Units around the Marine Corps work hard every day to maintain operational readiness. This is especially true for the Marines of Electronics Maintenance Company on Camp Kinser.

The company is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

ELMACO ensures that III MEF remains at a high state of readiness by providing repair service on communications and other vital electronic equipment to any unit that requires it.

“Electronics Maintenance Company is the primary intermediate activity for the repair of ground common communications equipment,” said Capt. Charles Chapman, the commanding officer of ELMACO. “Apart from a small calibration lab in Hawaii, we are the sole (repair) facility within III MEF.”

There are a variety of tasks required to be carried out by the Marines of ELMACO, and all of their work is highly technical, according to Cpl. Peter R. Almazar, the radio repair section head with the unit.

“We are a third and fourth echelon shop for radio maintenance and all communication gear,” said Almazar. “If any unit’s radios break, it first gets sent through a second echelon shop where they verify that it is broken. They then bring it back to us where we evaluate it further, fix it in a timely manner, and ensure it returns to its unit.”

The capabilities of ELMACO contribute to the success of the Marine Corps in the Asia-Pacific by allowing III MEF to remain independent and self-sufficient if a piece of equipment breaks.

“If we were to lose our capabilities, our reliance on the manufacture of the products would cause the cost of everything to climb,” said Chapman. “The turnaround time for an organic unit to turn in their radio, computer, or switchboard would also increase.”

In addition to fixing electronics, the Marines of ELMACO have remained committed to professionalism in all endeavors.

“We always try to focus on the ‘whole-Marine concept’ here,” said Chapman. “It is my goal for my Marines to not only come into work and understand their jobs but also to enjoy performing them.”

For the Marines of ELMACO, working on electronics is interesting and rewarding, according to Almazar.

“I love coming into work and being able to work with electronics,” said Almazar. “I get a great feeling every time I get to fix a piece of broken gear, no matter how broken it is, we can find a way to make it work.”

• Date Taken: 12.04.2013
• Date Posted: 12.12.2013 02:35
• Story ID: 118091
• Location: CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP