Courtesy Photo | Cpl. Yilian Lu, a test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment shop foreman assigned to...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The 514th Support Maintenance Company provides quality maintenance support to various units throughout Afghanistan. The test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment shop is critical to their mission success.
The shop aids in the support of general and special purpose TMDE and ensures all calibrations meet Department of the Army standards. The accuracy is reported to the National Institute and Technology in Colorado.
There are three TMDE labs supporting units in Afghanistan. The 514th SMC operates the only military lab in theater. The 514th split the section into two teams supporting both Regional Command-North and Regional Command-South.
Staff Sgt. John Santos, a native of Palm Bay, Florida, is the section’s senior noncommissioned officer. Santos is in charge of two TMDE maintenance support specialists. This small team supports approximately 20 customers and 1,100 lines of equipment for RC- N.
“The TMDE mission is vital to all customers in theater or home station,” said Santos. “What makes TMDE important is that customers have confidence in the equipment that they are using once it has been calibrated.”
There are various types of equipment the section calibrates ranging from oscilloscopes to signal generators, spectrum analyzers, multi-meters and multiple torque wrenches with a variety of sizes and dimensions.
“The usual calibration can go for half an hour to 26 hours,” said Santos. “As calibrators, we are expected to know, learn and retain not just a specific type of equipment but a multitude of equipment. We have the ability to adapt from multi-meters to flow meters, which processes the rate of fuel being expended, to tension meters that determine the maximum tension on cables.”
Each unit has a TMDE coordinator who is trained and responsible for identifying items that need calibration.
“My section is responsible for sending out the delinquent list, pick-up list and projected list to each unit’s calibration coordinators,” said Santos. “Based off the list, the TMDE coordinators link up with us to ensure their equipment is calibrated or repaired in a timely manner.”
The 514th SMC TMDE section works off their motto, “precision, accuracy and service is what we do so you can carry on the mission.”
Their focus is on increasing overall unit readiness.
“The 514th TMDE came to RC-North, established a rapid footprint and delivered their services to D Company, 1-227th ARB, Task Force First Attack and D Company, 2-227th Team Legion, Task Force First Attack,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ivory Dugar, quality control officer in charge. “The 514th TMDE section is without reproach here at RC-North. It has been our greatest experience to work with these true professionals.”
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2014 02:13 |
| Story ID: | 133320 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | PALM BAY, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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